Victoria Pendleton And Her Olympic-ready Body Are In Esquire, Yo!

Posted: 02/07/12 | Updated: 02/07/12

Philippa Warr
Arts and Entertainment Writer

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We might as well deal with the fact that the Olympics coming to town this summer means lots of pictures of people with astounding physiques.

On a related note, here's Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton's photoshoot for Esquire:

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Rather than theatrically glaring and turning the page we actually read the interview and here are our favourite quotes - you can read the full thing in the August issue of Esquire which is available from today (2 July):

On holding her sh*t together:
"People say as a sportsperson you shouldn't reveal your weaknesses. But I am vulnerable. I am emotional. What's wrong with that? As long as my legs are faster than the other girls and I hold my sh*t together, it doesn't matter."

On the surreal experience of winning gold in Beijing:
"I tried to feel something but I couldn't. It didn't feel like it was happening. I was smiling at one point but then the national anthem started and I was like, 'You can't laugh through the national anthem. That's treason!' But it just felt so comical. It was totally messed up."

On ambition:
"All I've ever wanted to be is really good at something. As a kid growing up, I can see now, it didn't matter what I did, as long as it was something I could be really good at. Cycling just happened to be the opportunity that came along."

Never have we been more tempted to take up cycling (although something tells us this would require more effort than just 20 minutes on a Boris Bike)...

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