Victoria aims to go out in a blaze of Olympic glory
GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Olympic champion sprint cyclist Victoria Pendleton is strongly favoured a to defend her crown at the 2012 London Olympics.
AS THE new year celebrations die down, the anticipation of the greatest sporting spectacle coming to the nation’s capital increases, writes Sam Murley.
The expectation on home-grown athletes in this summer’s Olympics and Paralympic Games will be greater than ever and none more so than cycling golden girl and Mildenhall Cycling Club’s Victoria Pendleton, who is strongly tipped expected to defend her Olympic sprint crown from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Despite her experience of medal glory, the 31-year-old, who is considering retirement after the games, is fearful of not repeating her success in front of a home crowd as she aims to go out on a blaze of Olympic glory.
“What happens in London will define the rest of my life,” she said, speaking to a national newspaper this week. “London isn’t just any old Olympics; it’s the most important of all Olympic Games for British athletes, more people will be watching in Britain than ever before.
“My mum is always telling me, ‘you are an Olympic champion and nobody can take that away from you.
“Yet it still feels that nothing else you have ever done matters. Only what happens at the London Olympics will truly matter.”
Another cyclist under the spotlight from our area will be the former Ousden-based rider Ross Edgar.
The former Newmarket Upper School pupil raced to prominence in Beijing fours years ago chasing home Sir Chris Hoy in the men’s keirin final, to claim a silver medal.
And although a decision made by the International Cycling Union limiting each country to being represented by one rider or one team per event, is likely to leave Edgar out of his favoured keirin discipline, he will be hopeful of medal glory in the sprint event.
Javelin star Goldie Sayers is another athlete with a point to prove in London as she aims to better her fourth-place finish in Beijing and force her way into medal contention.
After battling back from two serious injuries in as many years, Sayers, who has been recognised as the British number one for the past eight years, remains as one of Britain’s biggest medal hopes for London 2012.
Like Sayers, 27-year-old Newmarket rower Ben Hicks is another athlete battling back from injury, aiming to qualify for the Great Britain team in time for Games.
n Your Journal sport will be providing you with all the best in-depth local features on London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls right up until and including the Games itself, so make us your number one Olympic paper.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Newmarket
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.