CELEBRITY STYLE SPY: See all the latest celeb photos Stars animation

Victoria Pendleton's mum: Raising an Olympian

Victoria Pendleton for P&G Proud Sponsor of Mums P&G Proud Sponsor of Mums

Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton's mother, Pauline Pendleton, tells us what it's really like raising an Olympian.

She's the reigning Olympic and World Champion sprint cyclist and she's won a whopping nine world titles but to Pauline Payne, she'll always be 'just Victoria'.

Now she's preparing for London 2012 so we caught up with Victoria Pendleton's mum, Pauline Pendleton to talk about what it's like having an Olympian for a daughter.

'She’s always been very determined. She’ll give you 100% whatever she does and I do respect hard work, I do respect that she’s not big headed and she’s just Victoria,' says Pauline, who's taking part in P&G's Proud Sponsor of Mums campaign.

Victoria started cycling at the age of nine and by the age of 23 she was headed for the Olympics.

'Leading up to the 2004 Olympics in Athens, I think Victoria had been hoping that she might make the podium,' says Pauline. But her hopes were dashed when she finished sixth in the time trial and ninth in the women's 200m sprint.

'When she got home she was very upset obviously, very emotional and she threw the racing kit that she'd used into the dustbin. I felt that was a little bit drastic and I retrieved it from the wheely bin to wash it and keep it as a momento for her!'

Victoria needn't have worried - by the Beijing Olympics in 2008 she was back on winning form and took home the gold medal in the Women's Individual Sprint Event.

Next up, it's London and winning on home turf would mean everything to Victoria. 'If she was on the podium and had won gold I'd be ecstatic,' says Pauline, 'probably I’ll cry!

WATCH Pauline Pendleton’s story in full below...


The film is part of a series called Raising an Olympian from P&G, looking at what it is like to raise a world class athlete, through the eyes of their mums.

MEET JESSICA ENNIS'S MUM

SEE JESSICA ENNIS'S MARIE CLAIRE SHOOT

Related to:

Comments:

Follow Marie Claire on

Facebook

Twitter

Youtube

Free Daily Newsletter

Signup for our FREE newsletter...
Don't miss out on the latest fashion news straight to your inbox!

Subscribe to Marie Claire

Plus, read our Latest blogs, enter hot competitions, and much, much more...