The one lesson I’ve learned from life

Victoria Pendleton

VICTORIA PENDLETON, 37, is a double Olympic gold cycling winner and, since retiring, has retrained as a jockey. She lives in Oxfordshire with husband Scott, a coach.

BEING EMOTIONAL CAN HELP YOU WIN

AS A cyclist, I was always being told to be more like the men — less emotional. I’m quite a sensitive soul, and I was led to believe it was a weakness, which knocked my confidence to start with.

Male team members criticised me for it: ‘ You’re making yourself look vulnerable’. I was 16 when I joined the national programme, so I never knew anything other than that, but I remember feeling that I can’t change — this is how I operate.

It took me a while to realise it was OK to be emotional because this means something to me. Even if I’m getting upset, it’s powerful because it makes me want to win.

Riding is a different world. When I took on my horse-racing challenge — switching saddles, with the aim of becoming a qualified amateur jockey in a year — people told me it couldn’t be done. It was daunting to have my first riding lessons at 34: I went from being 100 per cent in control of my bike to having pretty much no control of a 600kg animal.

Mistakes happen. Five days into training, I lost a stirrup. I knew I was going to hit the deck. It winded me, but I caught my breath and got back on. If you accept you’re not fully in control, it’s OK. Riding’s changed how I approach things.

Coming fifth in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham was one of the greatest achievements of my life, as it was so unexpected. When I won my first Olympic gold in 2008, I knew I was one of the best at cycling in the world, so winning was more of a relief; at Cheltenham, I felt overwhelming joy, as I had no idea if I was going to fall at the first hurdle.

I’ve got two horses and cannot imagine life without them. I’m having dressage lessons, and showjumping is something I’d like to try. With equestrian sports, you can win gold at 58 — look at Nick Skelton, the show jumper who did that at the last Olympics — so there’s time!

I’m so glad I just settled with being me. You don’t have to be unmovable and unaffected by emotions to be the best.

VICTORIA supports whisky-maker Tomatin’s People Pairing personality quiz — tomatin.com/people-pairing