Two-time Olympic champion and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Victoria Pendleton announced the tragic news of a second family death in as many years on social media
Former Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton has announced that her father Max has died following a “long struggle” with Parkinson’s disease. The Team GB legend shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram in a heartfelt tribute to her dad, who passed away on Saturday having also been suffering with Parkinson’s dementia.
In an emotional post, the two-time Olympic gold medallist said she “wouldn’t have achieved anything without” her father, who “fought hard to the finish line as always.” It is the latest devastating tragedy for Pendleton and her family, coming two years after her twin brother Alex tragically died from a brain tumour.
She included a photo of him and their dad smiling together as she wrote: “The picture of Alex and Max is how I want to remember them both not taking the moment seriously. On the 11th of October my father Max Pendleton passed away after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease and more recently Parkinson’s dementia.
“He fought hard to the finish line as he always did. I am so grateful for his dedication to cycling and his unwavering belief in me, even if I didn’t always recognise it.
“I certainly wouldn’t have achieved anything without him and I am thankful for all I have experienced as a result. He always pushed himself, I admired that in him and tried my best to emulate,” she added.
“More significantly he has encouraged and enabled countless individuals into the sport of cycling. Organising equipment and kit and grass roots, grass track events. Where it all began for me. Rest In Peace. Love you dad.”
In an interview with the Guardian last year, she shed light on her relationship with her father, a former grass track champion who trained her to cycle as a child. Detailing his obsession with cycling, she revealed that he would take her and Alex out racing with him every weekend, as she confessed: “I thought every family did something like that at the weekends, but clearly not.”
He proudly watched on as Pendleton became one of the most decorated British female cyclists of all time at the London 2012 Games, when she won the second of her two Olympic gold medals in the keirin before securing a silver in the sprint.
The heartbreaking news comes just over two years since the 45-year-old was left shattered by the death of her “brave twinnie” Alex. He had initially been diagnosed with leukemia at the age of four, after being pricked by a wild rose which then caused blood poisoning.
However, after more than 30 years in remission, his cancer returned as he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Tragically, he passed away two years later, aged just 42, leaving Pendleton devastated.
In a heartfelt tribute to Alex, she wrote: “If you know me then you likely know my twin brother Alex, I just wanted to let you know that this morning Alex sadly passed away after an epic battle against an aggressive brain tumour.
“He will be painfully missed by many. Rest in peace my kind, brave twinnie, you will forever be in our hearts.”
She has since paid tribute to Alex by getting his name tattooed across her chest, while she broke down in tears as she spoke about his passing on the Channel 4 highwire challenge show Don’t Look Down a few months later.
Source: Mirror
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