CYCLING SUPERSTAR and two times Olympic gold medal winner Victoria Pendleton visited HM Naval Base Clyde on 18th – 19th August in her role as Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marine Reserves.
The British Cycling Hall of Fame winner arrived at the military site in style, boarding a Royal Marines vessel behind Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow before being whisked up the River Clyde to the base courtesy of 43 Commando’s Boat Group who were on a routine patrol.
The trip allowed her to see first-hand the maritime environment in which the Royal Marines operate.
Once at HMNB Clyde, she met with some of the elite Commandos who help protect the nation’s nuclear deterrent, receiving briefings on the Group’s role, speaking with some of the Marines on duty, and witnessing the specialist skills required to deliver nuclear safety operations.
Victoria, who was appointed an Honorary Colonel in July 2024, also visited an Astute Class vessel alongside HM Naval Base Clyde and, later, hopped back in the saddle to lead a spin class within the site’s Sportsdrome facility.
Leading Physical Trainer Jake Lavender said: “What an incredible day at the gym! It was fantastic to welcome Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton for a tour and spinning class.
“Meeting someone who has achieved so much on the world stage was a real privilege, and her enthusiasm and down-to-earth attitude made the experience even more memorable.
“Victoria’s visit was a huge inspiration to everyone involved and highlighted the positive impact that elite athletes can have in motivating others to pursue their own fitness goals.”
After the hectic activity there was a chance for Victoria to sit down and relax with military personnel for a cup of tea and chat about their experiences in the military.
The Olympian finished her visit by travelling to nearby Loch Lomond where she joined members of the HMS Oardacious rowing team on the Bonnie Banks.
The team of four Royal Navy personnel are currently in training for the annual “World’s Toughest Row” event, a challenge which will take them more than 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua.
Beginning in December, the event is notoriously challenging, with competitors adopting a cycle of two hours rowing and two hours sleeping, 24 hours a day. During the voyage they can encounter waves measuring up to 20 feet high and will burn more than 5,000 calories a day.
There may not have been any monster waves on the tranquil waters of Loch Lomond, but Victoria was able to give the team the benefit of her extensive experience on how to prepare for the mammoth physical and mental effort required.
The session focused on the extreme demands on world-class endurance events. Drawing on her career at the highest levels of professional sport, Victoria provided feedback on high-performance mindset, recovery strategies, and managing stress under extreme physical fatigue. All will be key factors the crew will face during their unassisted ocean campaign.
Warrant Officer 1 Iain Walker, part of the HMS Oardacious team, said: “It was an absolute honour and privilege to host Victoria Pendleton on Loch Lomond and get her out on the boat with us.
“Her experience as an Olympic champion is incredible, and the insights she shared on mindset and performance under pressure are invaluable as we finalise our preparations for the World’s Toughest Row this December.”
Victoria was invited to become an Honorary Colonel and Corps ambassador to HM Royal Marines as she can relate to the intense physical and mental requirements of being a Royal Marine.
Specialising in the sprint, team sprint, and Keirin cycling events, she has won two gold Olympic medals, a silver medal, and clocked up nine world titles. She was appointed as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2013 for services to cycling.
