VICTORIA PENDLETON paid an emotional tribute to her father who has died after a “long struggle with Parkinson’s”.
The ex-British Olympic cyclist and Strictly Come Dancing contestant announced the sad news on Monday.
Victoria Pendleton took to social media to announce her dad’s sad passingGetty Images – Getty
Instagram @victorilouMax Pendleton died two years after his son Alex, Victoria’s twin brother[/caption]
Max Pendleton’s passing comes two years after his son – Victoria’s twin brother – Alex died from a brain tumour aged just 42.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Pendleton, 45, took to Instagram with a lengthy post to honour father Max, a former amateur cyclist.
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.
“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.”
Pendleton won nine World Championship golds during her illustrious career.
She retired immediately after her home Olympics in 2012.
But the talented sportswoman turned to horse racing and made her competitive debut as a jockey in August 2015 with a second-place finish.
In March 2016, she secured her first race win and then raced at Cheltenham, where she crossed the line fifth on Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunter Chase.
Pendleton even took up jousting in 2017 – the year before her aborted attempt to climb Mount Everest with TV presenter Ben Fogle due to hypoxia.
During her Strictly appearance in series ten, she partnered Brendan Cole and was eliminated seventh, a week before Michael Vaughan.
VICTORIA’S ANGUISH
Pendleton has previously bravely opened up to The Sun on her mental health struggles and near-suicide attempt following a difficult divorce.
She said in 2020: “Everything in my personal life was out of control – there was this huge sense of loss from losing my sporting career, my marriage had broken down, the hypoxia…
“I wasn’t coping and I spiralled down and down and down into a place I didn’t think I could get out of, for about five months.
“There was one morning where I hadn’t slept all night and I didn’t want to see another day, but I made one last-chance phone call to Steve [Peters, British Cycling psychiatrist].
“It must have been about 6am, and he picked up and managed to talk me round, and I’m so happy and I’m so grateful that he did pick up the phone that day, because I wasn’t going to see another morning.”
When her brother Alex tragically died in June 2023, she shared the news on social media and 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.”
Instagram @victorilouPendleton thanked her dad for his constant support[/caption]
GettyPendleton bravely spoke to The Sun about her mental health struggles[/caption]
Her twin brother Alex died in June 2023victorilou
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organizations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
Movember, www.uk.movember.com
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