Since the late 1990s, British cycling has received unprecedented levels of Lottery funding – and this funding has paid dividends. The past 20 years have seen Team GB dominate the world stage and pick up medals left, right, and centre.
Unlike many other traditional pursuits, British cycling has been popularised largely by the accomplishments of women. Names like Laura Kenny, Victoria Pendleton, and our ambassador Lizzie Deignan have been synonymous with Olympic glory for decades, with these cyclists rightly sitting amongst their male teammates in the Team GB Hall of Fame.
To celebrate their success, we asked Lizzie to share her Olympic heroes past and present and got her thoughts on what makes them such great role models.
Nicole Cooke
Nicole Cooke was the first British female athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in cycling. She stormed to victory in the 2008 Beijing Games just six years after turning professional – and that same year, she broke another record.
After winning the World Championship Road Race, she became the first cyclist, male or female, of any nation, to become a Road Race world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the same year.
Her incredible achievements don’t stop there. She can lay claim to winning every major title in Road Racing, and she was the first Briton to win the Tour de France (later going on to win a second time).
Lizzie says:
“Nicole won Olympic gold in Beijing in her typical tenacious style. More impressive than this, for me, was the way she maintained her focus and form to go on and win the world championships two months later. I was lucky enough to be a part of that team, and I was inspired to try and replicate her success.”
Joanna Rowsell
Joanna Rowsell is perhaps best known for her incredible performances in the women’s team pursuit at London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics, as she helped bring home the gold medal for Team GB at both Games.
Her success has gone the distance – she’s still the World Record holder in the 3km and 4km team pursuit. Rowsell is also an ambassador of Alopecia UK, having had the condition since she was tenyears old, and is an inspiration to others who suffer from hair loss.
Lizzie says:
“Joanna has won two Olympic golds with world record winning performances. To deliver such dominant performances across two Olympic cycles is hugely impressive.”
Victoria Pendleton
Born into a cycling family (her father was a former British champion), Victoria Pendleton was always destined for greatness in the sport.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist, who raced to victory in the 2008 and 2012 Games in Beijing and London, respectively, was once an unstoppable force in the sprint and Keirin events.
Since retiring from cycling, she’s had a hugely varied career, publishing a successful autobiography, taking part in Strictly Come Dancing, and becoming a competitive jockey in 2015.
Lizzie says:
“If the division of medals at the Olympics had been made earlier, Victoria would probably be the most decorated British female Olympian of all time. She was the best for a decade and delivered when she was given the chance.”
Laura Kenny
Laura Kenny is Team GB’s most decorated female Olympian by far, having won four gold medals achieved at the 2012 and 2016 Games – one alongside Joanna Rowsell (above) in the team pursuit.
Kenny had an illustrious junior career in the sport, winning medals on a national level from her teenage years. Together with fellow cyclist husband Jason, Laura has become one of the UK’s best known and most loved athletes and has even had a leisure centre in her hometown of Cheshunt named in her honour.
And to think – she’s only 29 years old at the time of writing.
Lizzie says:
“Laura is a phenomenal athlete – her confidence is truly inspiring to watch. She has achieved so much at such a young age.”
Rebecca Romero
Rebecca Romero is one of those uniquely talented athletes who has achieved international success at the highest level in two completely different disciplines.
Having initially won an Olympic silver medal in rowing, she later took up cycling due to a back injury. Following a lot of hard graft and an incredible rise through the ranks of the sport, Romero achieved another silver in the individual pursuit at the Beijing Games in 2008, which is no mean feat!
Lizzie says:
“Rebecca made the bold decision to switch from rowing to cycling, and the decision paid off with a gold medal. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone suffer as much as she did in training, so it was inspirational to see her work ethic.”
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