She struggled to adjust to life on the boat, fainting minutes into the first challenge.
And Victoria Pendleton faced even more struggles in Wednesday’s Don’t Rock The Boat, as she clashed with actor Craig Charles after he accused her of being ‘toxic’.
The Olympic champion, 40, stormed off in hysterical tears after Craig implied her intense focus on winning left him feeling ‘unhappy and awkward.’
Emotional: Victoria Pendleton faced even more struggles in Wednesday’s Don’t Rock The Boat, as she clashed with actor Craig Charles after he accused her of being ‘toxic’
Early in the show tensions rose as Victoria implied Craig’s struggle with seasickness put her off during an earlier leg of the race.
Things escalated as both teams struggled with the more competitive members of the team, including the Blues Denise Lewis, who accused Jack Fincham of bringing down the mood with his focus on negatives during the row.
As the red team discussed the latest challenge after losing yet another land task, tension brewed over who should take it on, with Victoria implying she didn’t want Craig to take on the next 60-mile row to mainland Scotland.
Difficult: The Olympic champion stormed off in hysterical tears after Craig implied her intense focus on winning left him feeling ‘unhappy and awkward’
At odds: The red team were forced to have a meeting after Craig decided he wouldn’t take part in the next leg of the row, as Victoria implied he’d hold the team back
Despite agreeing he’d be boarding the red boat for the next leg, Craig later made the bombshell announcement he wouldn’t be rowing, telling hosts AJ Odudu and Freddie Flintoff he didn’t feel comfortable taking part.
As the red team had a frantic meeting to explain his decision, Fleur East said: There’s no point actually winning this if we’re miserable at the end of it, and people feel like they haven’t been made a part of our win. There’s no point doing it.’
Adam Thomas added: ‘Is it really about winning though? Really is this what it’s all about, but it’s about winning.’
Challenging: Craig delivered the most brutal blow, saying: ‘Victoria with the greatest of respects, I felt really uncomfortable I felt really awkward, I felt really unhappy’
Hard: The actor confessed he felt pressure to pull out of the row by Victoria due to her competitive focus
Awkward: He added: ‘And it’s generally down to you. Some of the energy you adjudge to me as well has been fairly toxic’
Attempting to smooth over the issue, the reds captain Jodie Kidd said: ‘Well some people are competitive and some people aren’t.’
Victoria quickly realised that her comments towards Craig sparked upset among the group, saying: ‘I mean I know the finger is being pointed at me, for being competitive, and I am a competitive person, that I’m born and bred that way.
‘What I want to bring to the team and how I feel I support you is by giving it my very best physically.’
Cutting to the blue team, where Victoria also remained the hot topic, Denise said: ‘That’s her, she can’t turn it off. If she’s doing it, she’s giving it 100%. Everytime.’
In tears: Fighting back tears, Victoria said: ‘Literally that breaks my heart Craig, that actually breaks my heart, and yeah just erm…’ before storming off crying: ‘Just seriously!’
Tense: The blue team also had their fair share of drama, as Denise Lewis claimed Jack Fincham wasn’t pulling his weight during the rows
Victoria continued: ‘And I feel absolutely hideous, that Craig feels this bad that he can’t get on and just prove us all wrong which was what I was kind of hoping would happen today. I really tried to be there for everybody on the boat.’
Craig then delivered the most brutal blow, saying: ‘Victoria with the greatest of respects, I felt really uncomfortable I felt really awkward, I felt really unhappy.
‘And it’s generally down to you. Some of the energy you adjudge to me as well has been fairly toxic.’
Fighting back tears, Victoria said: ‘Literally that breaks my heart Craig, that actually breaks my heart, and yeah just erm…’ before storming off crying: ‘Just seriously!’
Despite Adam’s insistence that Victoria ‘didn’t know she was doing it,’ it was agreed that Craig and Tom would stay on land and face the next land challenge, which saw them climb over a waterfall to collect buoys.
Viewers weren’t impressed with Victoria’s reaction, as they praised the heart-stopping nature of the show.
Divided: Viewers weren’t impressed with Victoria’s reaction, as they praised the heart-stopping nature of the show
One defended her saying: ‘These women are just more competitive. It would be a boring show if no one wanted to win,’ while another said: ‘Nice to see real team players on #DontRockTheBoar NOT, Victoria Pendleton seems to think she’s in the Olympic, lighten up woman!’
A third also posted: ‘Can’t believe Victoria Pendleton and the way she’s treating Craig Charles! Poor Craig! Rise above it.’
As the blue team continued to lag behind in the row, they were given a glimmer of hope, as they learned the team to win the next land challenge would be gifted with Olympic champion James Cracknell.
Don’t Rock The Boat continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV.
Back soon: Don’t Rock The Boat continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV