Say it loud, say it proud – Stotfold has an Olympic gold medallist.
The queen of British track cycling, Victoria Pendleton, raced to an unforgettable victory in the Women's Sprint in Beijing on Tuesday.

Part of Team GB's all-conquering cycling team, her Olympic crown confirms her position as the world's top women's sprint cyclist – she has already won a clutch of World Championship titles.

Earlier on Tuesday she had eased past Willy Kanis in the semi-final before securing her place in history in the final by winning the first two races in the best of three contest against Meares.

Thousands of people in Stotfold and across Chronicle country were glued to their TVs to see her in action.

They included her ecstatic dad Max Pendleton, who was the first to tell the Chronicle how he felt seeing his daughter take the gold.

The proud father said: "We are moderately pleased! No we are absolutely ecstatic, she did really well."

Victorious Victoria, who was brought up in Stotfold and went to school locally, flew her way through every round of the competition.

Then, with millions watching on TV on Tuesday morning, she left her Australian rival Anna Meares trailing in the final to grab the prized Olympic gold.

Everything went to plan, according to Victoria as she spoke to the BBC's Jill Douglas shortly after winning the gold medal.

She said: "After the success of the team 'is it too much to ask that I get one as well?' Everything was going like a dream.

"I feel so glad I am part of it, I feel part of the team now – you have to get a medal these days."

The track queen, who was on the verge of quitting cycling following a disappointing Olympics in Athens four years ago, was full of praise for her psychologist Steve Peters.

She said: "I couldn't have done it without him.

"I feel like a different athlete and I'm enjoying it a lot more and I'm just so lucky to have people around me who have helped me improve and make the changes that have made me the athlete I am right now.

"Mark Simpson, my strength and conditioning coach, knows me better than I know me, so credit to him too.

"I've wanted this so badly, it's been a big focus for me. I've beaten everyone there is in this field. I had to come here with a lot of pressure on me, because people expected me to win the medal – I'm the 'golden girl' here in track.

"I didn't even think about the outcome, I just focused on the process. It's gone so well over the last few weeks, it's been a dream come true.

"I've been watching all week on the TV back in the Olympic Village," she said. And it's been really emotional for me. I'm so proud of them all.

"I so wanted to do it too, to get my chance. I just wanted to be part of it."

Her father said: "She was close to being convinced she would get it, but not totally. There's always that one per cent in your brain that thinks it might not happen.

"But she did it, and she deserves it, she has trained so hard for this and it was all worth it.

"For us watching it is extremely stressful, we were all cheering from the television."

Mr Pendleton added that Victoria will be taking part in the closing ceremony on Sunday where she will be cycling a lap of the track before the passover of the games to London.

He added: "Some people think with cycling you just get on your bike and go. But it's a real tactical sport.

"If you make a wrong move and look over your shoulder at the wrong time then you've had it.

"But she made no wrong moves in any of the races, and it paid off.
"She has trained really hard and she really was at the top of her game. It's fantastic."

Stotfold Town Council is currently in the planning stages of organising a celebratory event that would involve all the sporting youngsters in the town meeting Victoria and being able to find out how she made it to the top.

Town council chairman Brian Collier said: "It's absolutely marvellous.
"We were all by the TV set when it was on and I was jumping up and down screaming when she won.

"It is fantastic for the town of Stotfold, and also, of course Victoria and her family. It's not everyday you get a gold medal winner in the town so it is definitely something that we should celebrate."

He added: "We are in discussions about holding some sort of event for Victoria and we are hoping that it would involve talking to the sporting youngsters we have in the town because we do have a lot.

"But we understand she is going to be very busy so we need to wait till we can actually talk to her about it."

One of Victoria's teachers who inspired her to go all the way has said she was over the moon when the cyclist took home the gold medal.

The champion sportswoman has praised her former Year 5 and PE teacher at Etonbury Middle School in Arlesey, publicly saying that she inspired her to go as high as she could with cycling.

Mrs Smith, 59, said: "I was watching all her races at home, cheering her on and I was absolutely delighted when she won the gold.
"She has obviously worked so hard, she deserved it.

"It was really nice to see her family talking on the news as well, I remember them all from school, and her sister and they were always such a lovely family."

Mrs Smith was Victoria's class teacher in Year 5 when the youngster arrived at the school, aged just nine and she also taught her sports in PE.

The former teacher added: "It was obvious from an early age that she had that determination to succeed.

"She was really into cycling then, and I tried to persuade to have a go at netball and other sports but she stuck to cycling, which I'm glad she did now!"

And MP for North East Bedfordshire Alistair Burt has praised the top cyclist for her victory.

Mr Burt said: "'This is a wonderful achievement and Victoria deserves every praise for her dedication, perseverance and making the very most of her talent.

"Her family and all who have encouraged her and coached her over the years should be very proud.

"I am sure she will be a role model and inspiration for youngsters and sport in Bedfordshire for years to come."