Pendleton wants to swap cycling shorts for sequins and Strictly

 

Tuesday 21 August 2012 12:09 BST
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Golden girl: Cycling star Victoria Pendleton
Golden girl: Cycling star Victoria Pendleton

Gold medallist Victoria Pendleton has said she would love to swap skinsuits for sequins and have a spin around the floor on Strictly Come Dancing.

The Olympic track cycling star said she is looking for some glamour as she turns her back on the velodrome and would be "very interested" in taking part in the BBC1 show.

Pendleton, 31, told ITV1's Lorraine show today she is now planning her next career move following her medal-winning triumph at London 2012.

The pedalling poster girl, who has endured years of gruelling training to get to the top of her sport, said Strictly would be an appealing idea.

"Well, I tell you what, if they do ring me I'd be very interested, I have to say.

"The idea of being very glamorous, it definitely appeals to me. After wearing Lycra suits and tracksuits for so long and not a lot of make-up I think, yeah, that would be good fun."

Producers of the celebrity dance show are currently tying up deals with this year's stars, who will be unveiled next month. The professional dancers have already begun rehearsals for the next series.

Reflecting on her Olympic experiences, the women's keirin victor said there had been a huge amount of pressure to do well in front of a home crowd.

"Going into a home Olympics cycle as reigning Olympic champion is something I would not do again if you paid me. It's been really tough, you desperately want to do so well and perform on home turf."

And after retiring from her sport, she said: "I will have to get a proper job after this. The only other job I have had actually was pulling pints in my local pub in between university, sort of on holidays.

"So I'm going to have to do a lot of work experience I think, probably. Watch this space - maybe we'll find out what I'll do quite soon."

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