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Vic-torious

20/ 8/2008

WILMSLOW cycling star Victoria Pendleton has won an Olympic gold medal for Great Britain.

Pendleton comfortably beat Australian Anna Meares in the final at the Laoshan velodrome, winning the best-of-three clash in straight races.

Pendleton won the prestigious sprint title on the last day of track competition, completing a dominant, 12-medal-winning performance by Team GB.

The 27-year-old (pictured right) put in a powerful performance to win the only event she entered at the Beijing games.

The victory was a dream return to Olympic action for Pendleton, who considered retiring from international competition after a disappointing ninth place in Athens four years ago.

But the track queen, who won three of the last four world sprint championships, blew away her opposition in Britain’s best medal haul in more than a century.

"I couldn’t expect anything more – it’s a dream scenario," said Pendleton. "It doesn’t feel real yet.

"I feel like part of the team because you have to have a medal these days!

"I’m lucky to have the people around that I have - and they helped me make the changes that I needed to make."