Pendleton (pictured top), 31, will be among the leading hopes for glory at the Olympic Velodrome in what is one of the host nation's strongest sports.

Pauline Pendleton (pictured below) spoke about her daughter during a short documentary aired as part of the Procter & Gamble UK Raising an Olympian series.

"She'll give you 100 per cent whatever she does and I do respect hard work, that she's not big headed and she's just Victoria," she said.

"She comes over as a very normal, natural person which she is.

"Fame has not affected Victoria one little bit."

The series of eight films show the mothers of some of Britain's top athletes, including Alison Powell, whose daughter, Jessica Ennis, will be a favourite for heptathlon gold, and Carol Hoy, whose son, Sir Chris, was the country's star of Beijing four years ago when he claimed three gold medals.


The series is part of worldwide Olympic sponsor P&G's Thank you, Mum campaign, recognising the crucial role mothers play in their children's lives.

The films document the ups and the downs of raising an Olympic or Paralympic star.

Pauline Pendleton revealed that she did not immediately realise Victoria's aptitude for cycling, but added that "I noticed when she did have success because very often she beat her brother!"

The golden moment of Pendleton's career to date was winning the women's individual sprint in Beijing against Australian rival Anna Meares.

But Pauline also spoke of the anguish her daughter felt when she missed out on a podium place at Athens 2004.

"I think Victoria had been hoping that she might make the podium in some way, but unfortunately her hopes were dashed.

"When she got home she was very upset obviously, very emotional and she threw the racing kit that she'd used into the dustbin.

"I felt that was a little bit drastic and I retrieved it from the bin to wash it and keep it as a momento for her."

Along with Hoy, Pendleton is set to end her cycling career after London 2012.



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