Lizzie Armitstead, who won Team GB's first medal at London 2012, has claimed that she used to be the last pick in school sports.
The 23-year-old took the silver medal in yesterday's women's road race.
She said: "I was the girl that made up the numbers on the team. I was into everything. I was the sort of girl that was on every school team.
"Even the bloomin' football team. I was put in goal. I always lost the big tournaments by letting goals in, but they needed the numbers.
"I loved every sport but I was never fantastic at anything until cycling came along. That was the sport that luckily found me."
Marianne Vos of the Netherlands won gold in the race.
