Eileen Sheridan, a legendary British cyclist, passed away at age 99.
The record-breaker, who was born in Coventry in 1923, was known as the Mighty Atom because of her height of 4 feet 11 inches.
In 1954, she completed the roughly 900-mile cycling trip from Land’s End to John O’Groats in two days, 11 hours, and seven minutes.
Amazingly, at Carlisle, 470 miles into the journey, Sheridan made his first halt to attach lights and change into wet-weather attire.
And after arriving at John O’Groats, she had a break that lasted no more than two hours before getting back on her bike and breaking the 1,000-mile mark.
Before Pauline Strong went even quicker, her Land’s End to John O’Groats effort was a record that stood for 36 years.
Sheridan, who was eight months away from turning 100, received a deluge of condolences from the cycling community.
British Cycling expressed its “great sorrow” at the demise of pioneering cyclist and Hall of Fame inductee Eileen Sheridan, who was 99 years old.
“Eileen was a fearless record breaker and an inspiration to so many who followed.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.”
One fan called her “one of the greatest cycling champions in history”.
Another wrote: “Sorry to hear that Eileen Sheridan has left us today, aged 99. An incredible sporting hero and trailblazer.”
Sheridan astonishingly shattered all 21 records set by the Women’s Road Records Association, including the 20 hours, 11 minutes, and 35 seconds she took to get from London to Edinburgh.
Her other accomplishments include riding 237 miles in 12 hours and 5 hours, 22 minutes from London to Birmingham.
The time-trial and distance runner, who won the British Best All-Rounder title twice, entered the professional ranks in 1951 when she signed with Hercules.
She broke the previous record for the distance from Land’s End to London by 23 minutes, but the WRRA invalidated it because the effort was announced in the national press ahead of time.
