Catharine Pendrel (born September 30, 1980) is a Canadiancross-countrymountain biker from Harvey Station, New Brunswick. A member of the Canadian National team since 2004, Pendrel was the world champion in cross-country mountain biking in 2011 and 2014 and the 2007 Pan American Games champion. She is also the current reigning Commonwealth Games champion when she won gold in Glasgow. Additionally, Pendrel is the 2010 World Cup Champion as well as the winner of the 2012 UCI and 2016 World Cup Series.[2][3] She won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Catharine Pendrel
Pendrel at the World Cup in Houffalize (Belgium) on April 15, 2012
Pendrel was a competitive horse rider in eventing prior to selecting mountain biking as her primary sport.[4] Her brother Geoff Pendrel is an elite downhill mountain bike racer. He introduced her to the sport as a child through the trails he built on their horse farm.[2] Pendrel's first race was on a bike borrowed from her brother.[4] She noted that she got into mountain biking because she "sucked at all the school sports."[5] She recounts that her first rides on her bike were often quite nervous ones ruled by fear, especially on descents where she would walk her bike down, she said that "what I remember from starting is falling and crashing a lot."[5]
She then headed from the East Coast to the West Coast where she began riding at the University of Victoria. There she had to convince future coach Dan Proulx into taking her on, as he was quoted "Catharine and I often joke because, no, I didn't see (world champion potential) in her at first. It took a lot of persistence and hard work over time. She had to bug me a bit to get me to coach her at first and luckily it all worked out. It just goes to show you, you can work hard and make something happen."[5]
Olympic disappointmentedit
Her first international competition was at the 2004 World Championships in Les Gets, France where she finished 46th.[2] Prior to competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Pendrel competed at the 2007 Pan Am Games where she won gold.[2] She finished 4th at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the cross-country event just 9 seconds out of a medal position.[4][5] Pendrel was not as notable a rider at the time as her hero, teammate, and gold medal favourite Marie-Hélène Prémont who did not finish after a lingering and unknown illness caused her to retire from the race.[5]
This near Olympic success helped launch Pendrel's most successful period. She won the 2010 UCI World Cup Series before winning the 2011 World Championships.[2] These achievements put her as one of Canada's top medal favourites for the 2012 Summer Olympics. In advance of the London games, she had won an online fan poll to be selected as Canada's flag bearer, though the Canadian Olympic Committee eventually selected Simon Whitfield as the flag bearer. In response she tweeted "Thank you Canada & cycling fans for voting me as people's choice for flag bearer. You honor and inspire me!"[6] She was also put into a favoured position to win at the London Olympics by winning the test event prior to the games.[6] At the Olympics Pendrel finished back in 9th place, disappointing the high expectations of her. After the race a tearful Pendrel said that "I felt so strong yesterday and today just didn't happen. You know I'm sorry because I know everyone in B.C. got up at 4:30 [a.m.] to watch me. It's just what I had in the day and unfortunately this only comes every four years. Maybe in Rio."[7]
Pendrel followed up Olympic disappointment with a great result in her next major multi-sport event the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. There she won the gold medal in the women's mountain bike event while teammate Emily Batty followed her for a Canadian one-two finish on the podium.[8] She then took her second World Championship title that September in Hafjell, Norway.
At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto Pendrel and Batty again battled for the top podium spot with the two Canadians taking an early lead on the same course they had raced in 2014 Nationals competition.[9] This time it was Silver for Pendrel and gold for Emily Batty.
2016 Olympic success at lastedit
Pendrel met cycling Canada's automatic selection Criteria to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and she did participate as part of Canada's Olympic team.[10] At the mountain bike event she crashed early on one of the first turns but would battle back into the main chase pack, together with Emily Batty and would later pull away in the third position, holding it for the bronze medal over Batty. After Pendrel described the race saying "It's unbelievable. Before the race I would have been happy with my career if I didn't have an Olympic medal, but I'm sure happy that I do. At the beginning of the race with getting in a crash at the start and then my shifting stopped working and it was just like: 'Everything is going wrong. I'm used to having bad starts, luckily, and I know I can work through a field. We had prepared for every scenario. I knew that I could close a gap and that's what I set about doing today."[11] Two weeks after the Games she won her third overall World Cup title.[3]
^ abBlum, Benjamin (September 4, 2016). "Catharine Pendrel adds cycling World Cup to Olympic bronze". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
^ abc"Catharine Pendrel profile". CTV Sports. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
^ abcdePaul Hunter (July 13, 2012). "London 2012: For mountain biker Catharine Pendrel, the wheels are always turning". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
^ abJesse Campigotto (July 4, 2012). "Catharine Pendrel: Canada's choice for Olympic flag bearer". CBC Sports. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
^"Catharine Pendrel, Emily Batty win gold, silver in mountain bike". CBC Sports. July 29, 2014.
^"Catharine Pendrel wins silver at the Pan Am Games". Retrieved July 15, 2015.
^Tozer, Jamie (June 29, 2016). "Returning Olympians highlight Canada's cycling team". www.olympic.ca. Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
^Doug Harrison (August 20, 2016). . CBC Sports. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
^"Team Canada Heads to Tokyo 2020 With Largest Cycling Team in Canadian Olympic History". Cycling Canada. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
^Awad, Brandi (July 6, 2021). "Team Canada's Tokyo 2020 cycling squad completed with mountain bike and BMX athletes". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
^. Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. July 6, 2021. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
^. Official Canadian Olympic Team Website | Team Canada | 2016 Olympic Games. January 25, 2013. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catharine Pendrel.
catharine, pendrel, born, september, 1980, canadian, cross, country, mountain, biker, from, harvey, station, brunswick, member, canadian, national, team, since, 2004, pendrel, world, champion, cross, country, mountain, biking, 2011, 2014, 2007, american, games. Catharine Pendrel born September 30 1980 is a Canadian cross country mountain biker from Harvey Station New Brunswick A member of the Canadian National team since 2004 Pendrel was the world champion in cross country mountain biking in 2011 and 2014 and the 2007 Pan American Games champion She is also the current reigning Commonwealth Games champion when she won gold in Glasgow Additionally Pendrel is the 2010 World Cup Champion as well as the winner of the 2012 UCI and 2016 World Cup Series 2 3 She won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Catharine PendrelPendrel at the World Cup in Houffalize Belgium on April 15 2012Personal informationBorn 1980 09 30 September 30 1980 age 43 Fredericton New BrunswickHeight5 ft 5 in 165 cm Weight50 kg 110 lb Team informationCurrent teamLuna Chix Pro TeamDisciplineMountain bike racingRoleRiderRider typeCross countryAmateur teamNorco Factory 1 Professional team2008 Luna Chix Pro TeamMedal record Women s cycling Representing Canada Olympic Games 2016 Rio de Janeiro Cross country World Championships 2011 Champery Cross country 2014 Hafjell Cross country Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow Cross country Pan American Games 2007 Rio de Janeiro Cross country 2015 Toronto Cross country Contents 1 Career 1 1 Olympic disappointment 1 2 Commonwealth and Pan Am success 1 3 2016 Olympic success at last 1 4 2020 Olympics 2 Honours 3 Personal 4 References 5 External linksCareer editPendrel was a competitive horse rider in eventing prior to selecting mountain biking as her primary sport 4 Her brother Geoff Pendrel is an elite downhill mountain bike racer He introduced her to the sport as a child through the trails he built on their horse farm 2 Pendrel s first race was on a bike borrowed from her brother 4 She noted that she got into mountain biking because she sucked at all the school sports 5 She recounts that her first rides on her bike were often quite nervous ones ruled by fear especially on descents where she would walk her bike down she said that what I remember from starting is falling and crashing a lot 5 She then headed from the East Coast to the West Coast where she began riding at the University of Victoria There she had to convince future coach Dan Proulx into taking her on as he was quoted Catharine and I often joke because no I didn t see world champion potential in her at first It took a lot of persistence and hard work over time She had to bug me a bit to get me to coach her at first and luckily it all worked out It just goes to show you you can work hard and make something happen 5 Olympic disappointment edit Her first international competition was at the 2004 World Championships in Les Gets France where she finished 46th 2 Prior to competing at the 2008 Summer Olympics Pendrel competed at the 2007 Pan Am Games where she won gold 2 She finished 4th at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the cross country event just 9 seconds out of a medal position 4 5 Pendrel was not as notable a rider at the time as her hero teammate and gold medal favourite Marie Helene Premont who did not finish after a lingering and unknown illness caused her to retire from the race 5 This near Olympic success helped launch Pendrel s most successful period She won the 2010 UCI World Cup Series before winning the 2011 World Championships 2 These achievements put her as one of Canada s top medal favourites for the 2012 Summer Olympics In advance of the London games she had won an online fan poll to be selected as Canada s flag bearer though the Canadian Olympic Committee eventually selected Simon Whitfield as the flag bearer In response she tweeted Thank you Canada amp cycling fans for voting me as people s choice for flag bearer You honor and inspire me 6 She was also put into a favoured position to win at the London Olympics by winning the test event prior to the games 6 At the Olympics Pendrel finished back in 9th place disappointing the high expectations of her After the race a tearful Pendrel said that I felt so strong yesterday and today just didn t happen You know I m sorry because I know everyone in B C got up at 4 30 a m to watch me It s just what I had in the day and unfortunately this only comes every four years Maybe in Rio 7 Commonwealth and Pan Am success edit nbsp Pendrel at the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike amp Trials World Championships Pendrel followed up Olympic disappointment with a great result in her next major multi sport event the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow There she won the gold medal in the women s mountain bike event while teammate Emily Batty followed her for a Canadian one two finish on the podium 8 She then took her second World Championship title that September in Hafjell Norway At the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto Pendrel and Batty again battled for the top podium spot with the two Canadians taking an early lead on the same course they had raced in 2014 Nationals competition 9 This time it was Silver for Pendrel and gold for Emily Batty 2016 Olympic success at last edit Pendrel met cycling Canada s automatic selection Criteria to represent Canada at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and she did participate as part of Canada s Olympic team 10 At the mountain bike event she crashed early on one of the first turns but would battle back into the main chase pack together with Emily Batty and would later pull away in the third position holding it for the bronze medal over Batty After Pendrel described the race saying It s unbelievable Before the race I would have been happy with my career if I didn t have an Olympic medal but I m sure happy that I do At the beginning of the race with getting in a crash at the start and then my shifting stopped working and it was just like Everything is going wrong I m used to having bad starts luckily and I know I can work through a field We had prepared for every scenario I knew that I could close a gap and that s what I set about doing today 11 Two weeks after the Games she won her third overall World Cup title 3 2020 Olympics edit In July 2021 Pendrel was named to Canada s 2020 Olympic team just seven months after giving birth 12 13 14 Honours editIn 2012 Pendrel was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal 15 Personal editShe was born in Fredericton New Brunswick and grew up outside the small community of Harvey Station New Brunswick Listed as her personal heroes are Gunn Rita Dahle and Marie Helene Premont 2 References edit George Sue February 1 2012 Catharine Pendrel Getting used to rainbow stripes Cyclingnews com Immediate Media Company Retrieved June 10 2015 a b c d e f Canadian Olympic Committee June 22 2012 Catharine Pendrel Canada com Retrieved July 12 2012 a b Blum Benjamin September 4 2016 Catharine Pendrel adds cycling World Cup to Olympic bronze CBC Sports Retrieved September 4 2016 a b c Catharine Pendrel profile CTV Sports Retrieved July 12 2012 a b c d e Paul Hunter July 13 2012 London 2012 For mountain biker Catharine Pendrel the wheels are always turning Toronto Star Retrieved July 16 2012 a b Jesse Campigotto July 4 2012 Catharine Pendrel Canada s choice for Olympic flag bearer CBC Sports Retrieved July 12 2012 Jesse Campigotto August 11 2012 Canadian favourite Pendrel finishes 9th in mountain bike CBC News Catharine Pendrel Emily Batty win gold silver in mountain bike CBC Sports July 29 2014 Catharine Pendrel wins silver at the Pan Am Games Retrieved July 15 2015 Tozer Jamie June 29 2016 Returning Olympians highlight Canada s cycling team www olympic ca Canadian Olympic Committee Retrieved June 29 2016 Doug Harrison August 20 2016 Canada s Catharine Pendrel wins Olympic mountain bike bronze after early crash CBC Sports Archived from the original on August 21 2016 Retrieved August 21 2016 Team Canada Heads to Tokyo 2020 With Largest Cycling Team in Canadian Olympic History Cycling Canada July 6 2021 Retrieved July 6 2021 Awad Brandi July 6 2021 Team Canada s Tokyo 2020 cycling squad completed with mountain bike and BMX athletes Canadian Olympic Committee Retrieved July 6 2021 Woods four time Olympian Pendrel headline Canada s cycling team for Tokyo Olympics Canadian Press Toronto Ontario Canada July 6 2021 Archived from the original on July 9 2021 Retrieved July 7 2021 Canadian Olympians Paralympians Coaches and Builders Receive Queen s Diamond Jubilee Medals Official Canadian Olympic Team Website Team Canada 2016 Olympic Games January 25 2013 Archived from the original on May 30 2017 Retrieved June 3 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catharine Pendrel Catharine Pendrel s personal bio at the Wayback Machine archived November 21 2008 Cycling Canada National Team Members 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catharine Pendrel amp oldid 1202691328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
