Image credit: Catharine Pendrel

By Earl Seitz

Catharine Pendrel

Catharine Pendrel balancing training and family ahead of her fourth Olympics

Jul 9, 2021 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Earlier this week Cycling Canada confirmed its largest ever team for the Olympics — 23 athletes in four different disciplines.

Three of those are in mountain bike — a male and two females, one of which is Catharine Pendrel from Kamloops.

This will be the fourth Olympics for Pendrel, who became a first time mother earlier this year.

Five years ago Catharine Pendrel returned home from the 2016 Rio Olympics with a bronze medal.

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Much has changed in her life since then.

Last January 26th she gave birth to daughter Dara — a first child for Catharine and husband Keith.

For years mountain biking was her focus —- now it’s balancing racing with family.

“It has been a learning curve for sure.” says Pendrel. “Especially that first race, figuring out how to have the time not just to physically prepare for a race, but to mentally prepare. How to recover after when you want to be spending time with your daughter.”

Daughter Dara and Catharine’s husband Keith were able to travel with her to a series of races in Europe this spring and early summer.

Dara will be six months old the day that Pendrel races in Tokyo, July 26.

But she won’t be with her Mom in Tokyo.

It was too late that the IOC changed course and allowed for infants to be there with their mothers —- so the decision was made for Dara to stay with grandparents in Revelstoke.

“I understand that the Japanese government and IOC were doing their best to make it a COVID safe environment, but when it comes to having an infant, it should have been pretty obvious that they’re not a spectator.. It would have been nice if this decision had been made a bit sooner so everyone’s preparation could have been a bit better.”

When it comes to race day on July 26th, Pendrel says she is looking at realistic expectations.

“It’s probably not a medal.” says Pendrel. “Because I really haven’t been at that level — getting into that top eight would be very challenging, but a very good goal for myself and I think that would help cycling in supporting our funding for the next Olympic cycle.”

As for that next Olympic cycle —- Catharine Pendrel has just about done it all in her career — two time world champion, Commonwealth Games and Pan Am Games champion, and Olympic bronze medalist. Are their aspirations of going to a fifth Olympics in 2024, when she will be 43 years old.

“I am planning for this to be my last year of World Cup racing, and then I’m sure I will continue working in cycling.” says Pendrel. “But just maybe on the other side of the tape.”