Victoria Pendleton Opens Up About Retirement Struggles and Feeling “Spit Out” by British Cycling System

Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton has revealed the challenges she faced during her transition to retirement in a candid interview with Sky Sports. The 43-year-old, who secured gold medals for Team GB at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London, opened up about feeling “spat out” by the British Cycling system after she retired at the age of 32.

Pendleton spoke to Sky Sports News as part of the Real Talk series, where she discussed how retirement was not something she had actively thought about while competing. She explained that she was discouraged from considering life after cycling and other career opportunities, with the focus being solely on her performance on the track.

Despite her successful career and two medals won at a home Olympic Games, Pendleton admitted that she felt her body was still capable of more and that she was not ready to retire. She reflected on the emotional and psychological toll of her decision to leave the sport, highlighting the pressure she felt to make a choice and the assumptions made about her future plans.

The former cyclist also shared her disappointment with the lack of support from British Cycling after her retirement, revealing that she received a handbag as a thank you gift in the Olympic Village. She expressed feeling undervalued and unsupported, leading her to distance herself from the organization for many years.

In response to Pendleton’s claims, British Cycling’s performance director Stephen Park emphasized the changes that have been made to improve the culture within the organization. He acknowledged the lessons learned from past experiences and expressed gratitude for Pendleton’s involvement in helping to deliver improvements to the women’s sprint program.

Overall, Pendleton’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by athletes during their transition to retirement and the importance of providing support and guidance during this period. Her honesty and resilience serve as a reminder of the dedication and sacrifices made by elite athletes in pursuit of their goals.