Victoria Pendleton is the picture of elegance at British Olympic Ball + Gold Carpet photos

10 points! Former Strictly contestant Victoria Pendleton is the picture of elegance at British Olympic Ball

By FEHINTOLA BETIKU

PUBLISHED: 01:55, 1 December 2012 | UPDATED: 13:33, 1 December 2012

Last week she lost out on her chance of being crowned the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2012.

But not allowing her ballroom disappointment to affect her style credentials, Victoria Pendleton stunned on Friday evening at the British Olympic Ball in London.

The 32-year-old champion stunned in a floor length gown as she stood on the glittering gold carpet at The Grosvenor House Hotel.

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Top of the leader board! Former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Victoria Pendleton wowed on Friday evening at the British Olympic Ball which was held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London

Simple and sleek: Victoria opted to keep her make-up simple and wore her hair back in a classic bun

Victoria wore her brunette hair back in a classic bun while posing for photographers as the soiree.

Teaming her black one shoulder dress with a small clutch bag, Pendleton accessorised with a pair of small black earrings, a thick bracelet and thin gold necklace.

Finishing her look, the retired track cyclist opted to keep her make-up simple and proved to be the definition of an English rose.

English rose... The 32-year-old accessorised with small black earrings, a thick bracelet and thin gold necklace

Another stunning showing: Host for the evening Christine Bleakley wowed in a blue Drisana lace gown by Erdem teamed with black open toe heels by Jimmy Choo

Beautiful: Bleakley kept her make-up light as she wore her brunette locks in a chic updo

Matching Victoria's graceful showing, host for the evening Christine Bleakley wowed in a blue Drisana lace gown by Erdem.

Styled by Angie Smith, Bleakley kept her make-up light as she wore her hair in a chic updo.

A pair of open toe Jimmy Choo heels and a black clutch completed the 33-year-old presenter's ensemble as she flashed her pearly whites.

Standing out: Denise Lewis dazzled in a white jewel encrusted dress which braved a feather hemline

Doting couple: Denise beamed as she posed for a picture with her husband Steve Finan

Legendary: Sir Steve Redgrave attended the ball alongside his wife Ann Redgrave

Same colour, different dresses: Bronze medallist Rebecca Adlington (L) and skeleton racer Amy Williams

Brightening up the evening: Gymnast Beth Tweddle wore a cut out red gown complete with gold leaves

Also in attendance: British ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean

Standing out from the crowd Denise Lewis dazzled in a white jewel encrusted dress which braved a feather hemline.

While bronze medallist Rebecca Adlington and former skeleton racer Amy Williams both opted to smoulder in purple.

Brightening up the ball, gymnast Beth Tweddle sported a red cut out gown which was beautified with gold leaves.

Gorgeous: Past and present Olympic stunners Lizzie Armitstead (L), Helen Glover and Ashleigh Ball (R)

The name's Daley, Tom Daley: The 18-year-old diver looked suave in a tuxedo

All black everything: Super-heavyweight Anthony Joshua looked dapper as he put his gold on display

Clean cut... Triathlon brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee looked immaculate in their ball attire

The pride of Britain: Dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer (L) and Judoka Gemma Gibbons

Tom Daley cut a Bond style figure at the event in a black tuxedo, white shirt and bow tie.

As gold medallist super-heavyweight Anthony Joshua looked dapper in all black.

Other sports stars at the prestige evening included Sir Steve Redgrave, Laura Bartlett, Sarah Thomas, Triathlon brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee.

In good spirits: British three-day eventing rider Kristina Cook posed with her silver medal

Showing off their medals: Hockey stars Laura Bartlett and Sarah Thomas

Singing talents: Former X Factor contestants Ella Henderson and Matt Cardle were also in tow

Championing the stars of the Olympic Games: Lord Sebastian Coe and his wife Lady Carole Coe

VIDEO: Team GB stars go to ball and give their predictions for Sports Personality of the Year 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2241306/Victoria-Pendleton-picture-elegance-British-Olympic-Ball.html#ixzz2Dowdpubw
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Girl Power Team GB as Dani King, Laura Trott, Beth Tweddle, Gemma Gibbons and Nicola Adams pose as the Spice Girls

Girl power! Team GB channel their inner Spice Girl as Dani King, Laura Trott, Beth Tweddle, Gemma Gibbons and Nicola Adams ditch their tracksuits and pose as the glamorous group

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 00:05, 11 September 2012 | UPDATED: 08:24, 11 September 2012

With over a third of Team GB's medals brought home by women, this summer really was the season of girl power. 

And although the Olympics are over, the great girls of the games are still enjoying every second.

Some of the nation's favourite female medalists have joined forces to celebrate in style by dressing up as the original girl-power icons and stars of the Olympics Closing Ceremony: the Spice Girls.

Spice up your life! The Team GB athletes showed off some real girl power as they posed as the iconic 90s band, Laura Trott as Baby, Dani King as Posh, Beth Twedde as Sporty, Gemma Gibson as Ginger and Nicola Adams as Scary

Cycling gold champions Dani King and Laura Trott; bronze gymnastic legend Beth Tweddle; Gemma Gibbons, who won silver in judo; and the first-ever women’s boxing gold medallist, Nicola Adams channeled their inner girl pop stars for the shoot for this week's heat magazine.

Laura Trott, 20, who shot to fame with her double gold cycling victory and friendship with Prince Harry as well as that famous kiss in the stands with boyfriend Kenny posed in a pink dress as Baby Spice.

She said: 'I was a crazy Spice Girls fan! I saw them when I was eight or nine, and I watched their reunion at the O2. 

'Baby Spice was my favourite! I used to be jealous of my sister, because her name’s Emma.  I was like, “Why did Mum and Dad give you the cool name?"'

Asked about the craziest thing that happened at the Olympics, Laura replied: 'Watching volleyball with Prince Harry – not many people can say they’ve done that. I met David Beckham the same night. That whole day was nuts.'

Laura Trott (left) loves dressing up; Gymnast Beth Tweddle (centre); Judo medalist Gemma Gibbon (right)

Nicola Adams and Dani King are representing girl power

Gymnast Beth Tweddle, 27, pulled off her best Sporty Spice jump, and looked every inch the glamorous athlete.

Speaking about her highlights of the Games she said: 'I got to meet Kate Middleton and Prince William. I was sitting next to her throughout the gymnastics final and she was asking questions. She’s so down to earth. I felt like I was chatting to a friend!'

Judo superstar Gemma Gibbons put on an orange wig and chanelled her inner Ginger Spice.

The humble 25-year-old said: 'On the morning of the day I fought, I had 600 Twitter followers; after my fight, I had 12,500! Olly Murs tweeted me and then I met him at the V Festival, which was really cool.

'I watched the Spice Girls at the Closing Ceremony. Everyone was looking forward to seeing them, and it was great to be there when they got back together.'

Nicola Adams, 29, the first ever girl to win a medal in boxing donned her best leopard print as Scary Spice.

The original iconic girl band in all their 90s girl power glory

The full interview with the girls is in this week's heat magazine

'I wouldn’t need a head guard in the ring with this much hair! And I’m not sure about the shoes, but I like the make-up. I wasn’t massively into the Spice Girls when they were big – I’m more of an R&B fan – but I saw them at the Closing Ceremony and I thought they were great,' she said.

'I’ve had loads of girls come up to me in the street and send me messages on Twitter, telling me they’re getting into boxing after seeing me fight, which is amazing. 

'But it’s not just sports, it’s about fighting for equality in everything. It’s so important and I’m really proud of the part I’ve played in that.'

21-year-old and cycling champion Dani King pulled off her best Victoria Beckham look in a fitted leopard print dress and trademark point.

She told the magazine: 'Kids knock on my door asking for autographs now and I’ve been to a party with Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

'I miss everything about the Olympics and I can’t wait until the next one!'

The full feature appears in this week’s heat magazine, on sale now.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2201053/Team-GB-channel-inner-Spice-Girls-Dani-King-Laura-Trott-Beth-Tweddle-Gemma-Gibbons-Nicola-Adams-ditch-tracksuits-pose-glamorous-group.html#ixzz269RhWB4P

From Jessica Ennis to Nicola Adams, the Olympic medal-winning women who will inspire a generation

Now that is REAL girl power: From Jessica Ennis to Nicola Adams, the Olympic medal-winning women who will inspire a generation 

By LUCY WATERLOW

PUBLISHED: 14:05, 13 August 2012 | UPDATED: 15:35, 13 August 2012

From Lizzie Armitstead winning Team GB's first medal of the London Olympics to Samantha Murray taking the last, British women have risen to the occasion on every day of the 2012 games.

Of Team GB's impressive 65 medals, 26 of them were won by women with 12 gold medals, eight silver, and six bronze (while women like Laura Robson and Zara Phillips also contributed to other medals when part of a team with men).

Rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning started the gold rush and more first place finishes followed, including heptathlete Jessica Ennis, cyclist Laura Trott and boxer Nicola Adams.

First and last Team GB medal winners: Silver medallists Lizzie Armitstead in road cycling, left, and Samantha Murray in the modern pentathlon ensured women were successful at London 2012 from start to finish

Women kick off the gold rush: Rowers Helen Glover, left, and Heather Stanning won Team GB's first gold of the games in the women's pair

'Inspire a generation' was one of the themes of London 2012 and it's hoped these sporting heroines can now encourage more girls to follow in their footsteps.

Currently according to the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), a charity that campaigns to make physical activity an everyday part of life for women and girls, more than 80 per cent of women are not active enough to stay healthy while young women leave school half as active as young men.

Inspiration: Laura Trott, right, idolised Victoria Pendleton, left, when she was growing up and has now emulated her success taking two golds while Pendleton added to her Olympic collection with another gold and silver

World record: From left, Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell took gold and achieved a world record time in the women's team pursuit track cycling

The reasons why women don't take part in sport include lack of time while others say they are too embarrassed to be seen getting hot and sweaty. Others would rather be thin than fit. As some sections of the media often sell a skinny look as ideal, looking toned and muscular is often perceived as being butch and unfeminine.

Sue Tibballs, chief exec of WSFF told Stylist: 'There’s a real difference in attitude between girls and boys; being sporty is seen as a positive thing for boys whereas girls are raised to think it is more important to be thin than fit.'

Such was the misconception over ideal body shape that in the build up to London 2012, super-toned Ennis had to defend herself against accusations that she was 'fat'. 

Transforming body image ideals: Gold medallist Jessica Ennis' abs have been voted the most desirable in Britain

Toned and proud: Anna Watkins, right, who won gold in the double sculls with Katherine Grainger, says she's no longer afraid to show off her muscly shoulders

Tibballs said her organisation has been working hard to 'try to shift the agenda so that it’s positive for women to be seen as fit and strong.' Thanks to our 2012 female Olympians, this is starting to happen.

After Ennis' gold-medal winning performance, women are now clamouring to look more like her as last week it was revealed the 26-year-old’s abs were voted the most desirable in Britain.

Anna Watkins, who won gold with Katherine Grainger in the double sculls, has banished her own body image demons thanks to the games and hopes to inspire other women to do the same.

She told The Guardian that she used to feel self-conscious of her muscly shoulders but now feels she can be proud, rather than ashamed, of her athletic physique.

She said: 'I've got quite muscly shoulders and I wouldn't normally wear a vest-top, but now I feel proud to show them.'

Making history: Nicola Adams was the first female Olympic boxing champ after women were allowed to take part in the sport for the first time in the games this year

Real girl power: Gemma Gibbons, left, won silver in the judo while Jade Jones, right, took gold in taekwondo

She added that she hopes other girls can now learn that it is possible to be sporty and beautiful. She said of her female rowing team-mates: 'For us, the female ideal is athletic. We want to make our bodies look as strong and capable as possible.'

Teenager Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who competed in the heptathlon in London 2012 where she came 15th, agreed saying she hopes the efforts of female Olympians can show girls they should aspire for more than being a reality TV star or model.

Double celebration: Charlotte Dujardin won gold in the individual and team dressage competition

Showing girls that hard work pays off: Rebecca Adlington said she gave her all to win two bronze medals in the pools

'We're used to seeing girls on The Only Way Is Essex or Geordie Shore but now a lot of people have been seeing what women can do, in a positive way, with sport,' she said.

It's hoped the female Olympians can encourage women to become more active and competitive in all fields of sport from team games like hockey to fighting in the boxing ring.

Nicola Adams, who made history by becoming the first female boxer to win a gold medal at the Olympics said: 'I'm really hoping it brings more women into sport, even if not boxing. I was inspired by Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard and to think kids in the future have a female role model to look up to is really great.' 

Ruling the waves: Hannah Mills, left, and Saskia Clark took silver medals in the sailing

Team spirit: GB's women hockey players took bronze medals

Delight: Sophie Hosking, left, and Katherine Copeland celebrate winning gold in the final of the lightweight women's double sculls

Cyclist Laura Trott, who took two gold medals in the velodrome is evidence this can work. She was inspired growing up by Victoria Pendleton - who has proved that cycling can be glamorous as well as gruelling. She won another gold and silver medal at the London Olympics while her protege took two golds.

Laura said: 'If I can inspire anyone like Victoria inspired me I think that would be amazing and I just want somebody to want to follow in my footsteps as well.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2187669/From-Jessica-Ennis-Nicola-Adams-medal-winning-women-inspire-generation.html#ixzz23TOudCD8