Former Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton has revealed the heartbreaking news of her father Max’s death after a ‘long struggle’ with Parkinson’s disease. The iconic Team GB athlete shared the devastating news on Instagram, paying an emotional tribute to her dad who passed away on Saturday, also suffering from Parkinson’s dementia.
In a heartfelt post, the double Olympic gold medallist expressed that she ‘wouldn’t have achieved anything without’ her father, who ‘fought hard to the finish line as always’. It marks the latest heart-wrenching blow for Pendleton and her family, following the tragic death of her twin brother Alex from a brain tumour two years ago.
She shared a photo of her brother and their dad smiling together, writing: “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.”
In an interview with The Guardian last year, Pendleton opened up about her bond with her father, a former grass track champion who coached her to cycle as a youngster.
Speaking about his passion for cycling, she disclosed that he would take her and Alex out racing with him every weekend, as she admitted: “I thought every family did something like that at the weekends, but clearly not.”
He beamed with pride as Pendleton became one of Britain’s most celebrated female cyclists of all time at the London 2012 Games, when she claimed her second Olympic gold medal in the keirin before earning silver in the sprint.
The devastating news arrives just over two years since the 45-year-old was left heartbroken by the loss of her ‘brave twinnie’ Alex.
He had originally been diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of four, after being pricked by a wild rose which subsequently caused blood poisoning.
After more than 30 years in remission, his cancer returned as he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Tragically, he died two years later aged just 42, leaving Pendleton devastated.
In a heartbreaking tribute to Alex, she penned: “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.”
