UNITED KINGDOM: CYCLE RACING - Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton declares herself in the best possible shape as she prepares to stare down expectations, pressure and her rivals at this year's Games in London

Record ID: 330730

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: CYCLE RACING - Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton declares herself in the best possible shape as she prepares to stare down expectations, pressure and her rivals at this year's Games in London
  • Date: 15th May 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 14, 2012) (REUTERS) BRITISH CYCLIST VICTORIA PENDLETON AND CELEBRITY CHEF JAMIE OLIVER UNVEILING "HOPE RELAY" SIGN AT LONDON'S CITY HALL PENDLETON AND OLIVER POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS PHOTOGRAPHERS PENDLETON PUTTING ON RUNNING SHOES / POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH CYCLIST VICTORIA PENDLETON SAYING: "The smaller competitions...you know when you've been Olympic champion, you got the smaller competitions, it's difficult to get up for them....you say, ah, it's not the Olympics is it? So I'm looking forward, to sort of using that, to give the most, everything I've got to get that (winning) performance." PENDLETON ON BIKE AHEAD OF RELAY START PENDLETON HOLDING MOBILE PHONE AHEAD OF RELAY START (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH CYCLIST VICTORIA PENDLETON SAYING: "I would quite safely say that I'm in the best shape I've been in at this stage of the year, in my life...ever...so that's a good sign. So I'm really looking forward to it, I really am. I was kind of apprehensive, I must admit, going a couple of years back, stuck in between those two Olympic cycles going "oh my goss, the pressure". But now I feel it's moving on and we're nearly there and oh, it's like let's get in there." PHOTOGRAPHERS / CAMERAMEN PENDLETON SETTING OFF FOR A RIDE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH CYCLIST VICTORIA PENDLETON SAYING "Obviously I want to go out on a high, that would be the perfect finish to my career. However, I'm still Olympic champion, I've still got nine world titles. Over the my ten years of cycling career at the top, I've probably been the most successful British female cyclist ever. So I'm already stepping right now here today knowing that I've achieved a lot in my career and I have to be kind of pleased with that. I'm happy about that, I'm happy with my success over the years. Would I like more? Obviously, I always want more. But it wouldn't be a disappointment. If I go to London and I know it's not my day, I've done everything in my power to be there in the best possible position and I'm just going to have to take the result, whatever it is. Hopefully it's a good one but who knows. I'm still very satisfied with what I've achieved over my cycling career." OLIVER PUTTING ON SHOES (SOUNDBITE) (English) CELEBRITY CHEF JAMIE OLIVER SAYING: "I think the Brits are classically playing it cool. I think we're all sort of playing the "yeah, it's exciting, it's exciting." But, you wait, in a month's time it will start going ballistic. And you know Britain's interesting because we don't normally get the flags out and get patriotic very often. I think we're patriotic about football teams but not necessary the country, it's normally a wedding or a funeral that we do." OLIVER WALKING AS PART OF RELAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) CELEBRITY CHEF JAMIE OLIVER SAYING: "The one thing I hope and pray for is that under the cloak of the Olympics, which is lovely and I'm not here to debate that, but I hope the journalists that come here, the 23 thousand of them, I hope the guests from other countries can be...I hope British people direct them to where the really good food is and they get an honest vision of it. Obviously I'm food centric but I think food does speak as an excuse for good times." PENDLETON RIDING BIKE OVER FINISH LINE OF RELAY
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: People,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA19YNK5KBSOOQJH1XLPU6TDWOT
  • Story Text: The pressure of a home Olympics on the shoulders of a defending Olympic champion is going nowhere and is best embraced, British track cyclist Victoria Pendleton said on Monday (May 14).
    Speaking at the launch of Games' sponsor Samsung's Hope Relay mobile phone application that donates £1 to a host of charities every time you run, walk or cycle a mile, 31-year-old Pendleton was bullish about handling the expectations she faces as she prepares for her final competition before retiring.
    "When you've been Olympic champion, you go to the smaller competitions, (and) it's difficult to get up for them....you say, ah, it's not the Olympics is it?," Pendleton said in front of London's iconic Tower Bride.
    "So I'm looking forward, to sort of using that, to give the most, everything I've got to get that (winning) performance."
    Pendleton is set the race the individual sprint, team sprint and keirin in London.
    Australia's Anna Meares is considered the Brits greatest threat to another individual sprint triumph but after struggling to keep pace in between Olympics, Pendleton is back in the groove after proved it by winning back her world title at this year's world championships in Melbourne.
    "I would quite safely say that I'm in the best shape I've been in at this stage of the year, in my life...ever...so that's a good sign. So I'm really looking forward to it, I really am," she said.
    "I was kind of apprehensive, I must admit, going a couple of years back, stuck in between those two Olympic cycles going "oh my goss, the pressure".
    "But now I feel it's moving on and we're nearly there and oh, it's like let's get in there."
    Pendleton will end her glittering career once the Games are over with marriage and a family on the agenda post London.
    The will to win is obvious but failure in London will not dent Pendleton's achievements.
    "Obviously I want to go out on a high, that would be the perfect finish to my career," she said.
    "However, I'm still Olympic champion, I've still got nine world titles.
    "Over the my ten years of cycling career at the top, I've probably been the most successful British female cyclist ever.
    "So I'm already stepping right now here today knowing that I've achieved a lot in my career and I have to be kind of pleased with that.
    "I'm happy about that, I'm happy with my success over the years.
    "Would I like more? Obviously, I always want more. But it wouldn't be a disappointment. If I go to London and I know it's not my day, I've done everything in my power to be there in the best possible position and I'm just going to have to take the result, whatever it is. Hopefully it's a good one but who knows.
    "I'm still very satisfied with what I've achieved over my cycling career."
    Meantime, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver also threw his support behind Samsung's fund-raising initiative and was on hand for the launch at London's City Hall.
    Oliver is one of Britain's most high profile exports courtesy of his food-focussed television shows, popular range of cook books and fund-raising efforts.
    "I think the Brits are classically playing it cool. I think we're all sort of playing the "yeah, it's exciting, it's exciting," Oliver said during an interview with Reuters when quizzed about the impact of the Olympics on his country.
    "But, you wait, in a month's time it will start going ballistic.
    "And you know Britain's interesting because we don't normally get the flags out and get patriotic very often. I think we're patriotic about football teams but not necessary the country, it's normally a wedding or a funeral that we do."
    As a chef, Oliver wanted to be part of London 2012 to ensure the world's media and other international guests properly experienced the best of British food.
    He admitted it did not float but he remained optimistic visitors would be well looked after in terms of culinary delights.
    "The one thing I hope and pray for is that under the cloak of the Olympics, which is lovely and I'm not here to debate that, but I hope the journalists that come here, the 23 thousand of them, I hope the guests from other countries can be...I hope British people direct them to where the really good food is and they get an honest vision of it," Oliver said.
    "Obviously I'm food centric but I think food does speak as an excuse for good times."
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