Getting to Know 3 Biking Olympians: Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash and Catherine Pendrel

This Canadian knows how to pedal, so watch out for Catharine Pendrel!

Catharine Pendrel

Catharine Pendrel is the current world champion in cross-country mountain biking who will compete for Canada.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about your sport? I think a lot of people see it more as an extreme adrenaline sport than one centered on aerobic fitness. The image of a bulky downhill racer comes to most people before that of a lean cross-country rider.

What’s your training like? In the winter, it is varied between cross-country skiing, trainer sessions on the bike, weights and running or swimming. In the summer, it is long road rides and shorter, harder MTB rides. I do about two interval sets per week when not racing on the weekend, some strength maintenance, and then the rest is aerobic endurance or active recovery like yoga, walks and gardening to refresh my mind.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? At times, less is more. Respect your rest days.

What’s the best piece of advice you can give to someone else? Make it fun first, and it won’t feel like work.

What does going to the Olympics mean to you? Going to the Olympics means I have hit the pinnacle of my sport. It is the one event that reaches every home in the nation, and my ultimate opportunity to give back to all the people that have supported me on my journey to that moment.

Can’t wait to see how these ladies do in London! While most of the Olympics hub-bub seems to be about swimming, track and gymnastics, it sure is fun to learn more about these cross-country mountain bikers. Will you be rooting for these ladies later this month? —Jenn