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Golden girl

by Rachel Leslie
20/ 8/2008

WILMSLOW cyclist Victoria Pendleton has made history by becoming the first British woman to win Olympic gold in the cycling sprint final.

The 27-year-old reigning world and Commonwealth champion was favourite to take the title in track cycling’s blue riband event in the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing.

And she didn’t disappoint.

Victoria pedalled to victory, beating Australian Anna Meares two nil in the best-of-three final to clinch gold on Tuesday, August 19 at 12.06pm GMT.

She was the 14th Britain to win a gold medal and increased the track cycling gold tally to six medals on day 11 of the 2008 Games.

A darling of the bike world, Victoria said it was a "dream" to finally win an Olympic medal after missing out in Athens four years ago.

After winning in straight races, she said: "It doesn't feel real yet. Everything went to plan but after the success of the team I felt it might be too much to ask.

"I couldn’t expect anything more - it’s a dream scenario. I feel like part of the team because you have to have a medal these days.

"I feel like a completely different athlete (from Athens), I enjoy it a lot more and am lucky to have people around me to help me improve."

The former Northumbria University student defeated Willy Kanis of the Netherlands earlier in the day to reach the final of the event.

Yet her talent took some years to shine through as she spent most of her youth playing on bikes, rather than applying herself to her Olympic potential.

She was also described by her French Canadian coach earlier in her cycling career as being unsuited for cycling after he said she was "too skinny, too puny to be a sprint cyclist".

Victoria undertook her victory lap in Beijing to a rapturous applause from hundreds of British fans.

Aaron Cook is now gearing up for the taekwondo competition in the hope of adding to Britain’s medal haul.

The 16-year-old learnt his skills in Alderley Edge woods and faces Jason Anju of Hawaii in the men’s 80kg preliminary round this Friday, August 22 at 11.15am GMT.

The quarter and semi finals, and bronze and gold medal contests are scheduled to take place later the same day.