WILMSLOW is going for gold at the Beijing Olympics as two of our hopefuls do battle to bring home a haul of medals.
Vicky Pendleton, 27, of Wilmslow is a hot favourite in the cycling and youngster Aaron Cook, 16, who learnt his skills in Alderley Edge woods is hoping for glory in the taekwondo competition.
Both athletes are no stranger to success – they have both won gold medals for Britain over the past few years – and are currently training in Macau, near Hong Kong in preparation for the biggest sporting event in the world.
Vicky is the current darling of the bike world after claiming three gold medals at the world championships this year and has had to forgo one of her favourite pastimes, shopping in Wilmslow’s boutiques, in order to focus on training.
The former Northumbria University student said: "My coach did give me permission to go to a Foo Fighters concert at Wembley last month – they are my favourite band – but I had to promise not to dance."
Vicky’s talent needed a few years to shine through, with most of her youth spent playing on bikes and not applying herself to their Olympic potential.
She added: "As a teenager I just cycled to keep fit and messed about with my brother. It didn’t cross my mind that I might become an elite athlete but my dad, who is a keen amateur cyclist and former national champion, spotted my potential.
"I had to move house to be able to store all my sports kit. I’m sponsored by Adidas so I have more trainers than I’ll ever need."
Although favourite to cycle to victory in the women’s sprint event, she has pleaded with the British public not to expect too much.
"It’s amazing, but we just hope people are able to understand that we can’t always be good," she said.
Aaron, currently living in Dorchester, started his sport at the tender age of five training at Alderley Edge before moving down South and taking gold at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and bronze at the Junior World Championships.
Speaking after winning bronze, the 183cm tall fighter said: "It keeps me on course to realise my Olympic ambition."
With Steve Redgrave as his Olympic hero Beijing could be the first of many times we see this youngster at the Games. He added: "I like the high speed action involved in taekwondo."
The athletes started to move into the Olympic village last Sunday and the Games start on Friday, August 8.
