Prepare to see double Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton in a different kind of saddle as she starts training to become a jump jockey . The 34-year-old , who is Britain 's most successful female Olympian after winning sprint gold at Beijing in 2008 and the keirin at London 2012 , hopes to compete in the Foxhunter Chase at next year 's Cheltenham Festival . Pendleton has begun working with National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls and Team GB 's eventing performance manager , Yogi Breisner . Double Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton has started training to become a jump jockey . Pendleton has begun training , and hopes to compete in the Foxhunter Chase at the 2016 Cheltenham Festival . Pendleton working with trainer Paul Nicholls and Team GB 's eventing performance manager , Yogi Breisner . The change of career has been funded by online bookmakers Betfair , and the former cyclist hopes to obtain her Category A amateur license which would allow her to ride in amateur races on the Flat and over jumps , as well as compete in the point-to-point field . She told the Daily Mirror : ' I 've been looking for a new and exciting challenge , and when they approached me about the opportunity to become a licensed amateur jockey , it captured my imagination . I 'm motivated by the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to combine my love of horses with learning a new skill under the guidance of racing experts put together for me . ' ' I will be working closely with Yogi Breisner , Chris King and Paul Nicholls to help train and advise me over the next 12 months . Pendleton says she been looking for a new and exciting challenge since retiring . Pendleton has been praised by trainer Nicholls , who says she is an outstanding athlete with a real drive . 'My team and I have identified the ambitious target of riding competitively in the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham Festival next year , but the initial focus will be on getting me to a level whereby I am granted an amateur jockey licence , which is a significant challenge in itself given that I had never even sat on a horse until a week ago . ' Nicholls added : 'Victoria Pendleton is an outstanding athlete with a real drive and determination , so whilst this is an incredibly difficult challenge , these attributes are exactly what you need to become a jockey . 'Having the competitive mind set of an Olympic champion , I 've no doubt will put her in a great place to succeed in this challenge whilst also shining a much deserved light on the sport of horse racing . ' Pendleton cries after receiving her gold medal for winning the keirin at London 2012 . Pendleton celebrates after winning gold in the keirin at London 2012 . Pendleton is Britain 's most successful female Olympian , but has now turned her attention to horse racing . Breisner , who is the eventing performance manager for Team GB , will be acting as a mentor to Pendleton and believes her athletic mindset will be a huge plus . He said : 'Victoria is a hugely talented , ambitious and gutsy individual , and these traits will stand her in the best stead possible for achieving this ambitious goal . 'Having worked with her for a week , the progress she has already made in such a small amount of time is quite frankly remarkable . It 's a real privilege to work with Victoria on a challenge of this magnitude . 'While no one under estimates the scale of the challenge ahead , Victoria 's undoubted mental and physical strength , coupled with the team Betfair have put together to help her with this challenge , means we are in a fantastic position for Victoria to achieve the ambitious goal of riding at Cheltenham Festival in 2016 ' .
Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton is training to be a jockey . The 34-year-old hopes to compete at next year 's Cheltenham Festival . She won sprint gold at Britain in 2008 and the keirin at London 2012 . Pendleton says she has been looking for a new and exciting challenge .