Queen Victoria Reigns on Track
4 August 2012, 09:11 | Updated: 5 August 2012, 09:20
Bedfordshire's Victoria Pendleton put a disqualification behind her to win gold in the women's keiring cycling event at London 2012.
The 31 year old from Stotfold rode to victory on Friday 3 August 2012, having been disqualified along with partner Jess Varnish in the women's team sprint the day before. The dissapointment led to her breaking down in tears.
Victoria's gold medal in the keirin comes in her final Olympics. She has announced plans to retire after London 2012.
She is due to marry her Australian fiance Scott Gardner - one of the cycling backroom performance team - after the Games.
The couple now live in Wilmslow, Cheshire, with their two Dobermans, Mr Jonty and Stella.
Pendleton wanted to inspire other women to take up cycle racing, to show you could be a winner and still be attractive.
When not training in the gym or on the bike she will be found enjoying her typically "girly'' hobbies - dress-making, catching up with friends, baking and shopping.
Pendleton will now have much more time for all that and, but for the fact London is hosting the Games, she would have quit two years ago.
But she did not want to be left thinking "What if?'' and decided to ride on for an Olympic climax to an exemplary career.
VICTORIA PENDLETON FACTFILE
1980: Born on September 24 in Stotfold, Bedfordshire.
2001: Wins three silver medals at the British national track championships.
2002: Finishes fourth in sprint at Commonwealth Games
2003: Finishes fourth in sprint at World Championships.
2004: Finishes fourth in sprint at World Championships. Wins World Cup sprint in Manchester and finishes second overall in four-event series.
At Athens Olympics, finishes sixth in 500m time-trial and ninth in sprint.
2005: Wins sprint gold at World Championships - her first major medal.
2006: Wins gold in sprint and silver in 500m time-trial at Commonwealth Games. Win silver in sprint at World Championships.
2007: March - Wins three golds at World Championships, in sprint, keirin and team sprint, the latter with Shanaze Reade.
2008: March - Win two golds at World Championships in Manchester in sprint and team sprint plus silver in keirin.
August 19 - Wins only Olympic title on offer, with victory in the sprint over Anna Meares of Australia.
November - Triumphs in three events, sprint, 500m time-trial and keirin at Manchester World Cup.
2009: March - Wins world sprint title in Pruszkow, Poland, plus silver in the team sprint with Reade and bronze in the 500m time-trial.
December - The International Olympic Committee confirms plans for gender parity in London, meaning Pendleton will have three Olympic titles to aim for.
2010: March - Wins a fourth successive world sprint title in Copenhagen. Takes silver in keirin.
November - After missing Commonwealth Games in Delhi, takes silver in the team sprint at European Championships in Pruszkow with Jess Varnish.
2011: March - Finishes third in sprint at World Championships in Apeldoorn, missing out on title for first time in since 2006. Second in team sprint with Varnish.
June - Announces intention to retire after London 2012 Olympics.
2012: February - Sets team sprint world record with Varnish at London World Cup, an event which doubles as the Olympic test event.
April - Regains world sprint title in Melbourne after an epic semi-final battle with Meares. It was her sixth world title in eight years.
August 3 - One day after missing out of team sprint gold, when she and Jess Varnish suffer relegation from the medals races due to an infringement, Pendleton wins the Olympic title in the keirin.