Victoria Pendleton's father has passed away: he was a key figure in her career.

A sad moment for Victoria Pendleton

According to The Sun: Victoria Pendleton, the former British Olympic cyclist, expressed her deep feelings after the death of her father, who passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

Victoria Pendleton shared the sad news on social media Getty Images - Getty Instagram @victorilou

The death of Victoria's father, Max Pendleton, occurred just two years after her twin brother Alex passed away from a brain tumor.

Honoring his memory

Pendleton, who is 45 years old, shared her feelings in a long post on Instagram, honoring her father’s memory, who also participated in cycling at an amateur level.

“On October 11, my father Max Pendleton passed away after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and a recent dementia condition. He fought until the end, as always.”

Victoria added: “I am grateful for his support in the cycling world and his belief in me, even when I didn't always realize it. I wouldn’t have achieved anything without him.”

“Rest in peace. I love you, dad.”

Throughout her brilliant career, Pendleton won nine gold medals at the World Championships. She retired from competitive cycling after the 2012 London Olympics, after which she tried her hand at horse riding and participated in jousting.

Openness about mental health struggles

Victoria has also shared her struggles with mental health and the issues she faced following a difficult divorce.

“I wasn’t coping and fell into a deep depression, not knowing how to get out of it for about five months.”

Instagram @victorilou In summary, Victoria Pendleton is experiencing difficult times, having lost two loved ones - her father and brother. Her social media posts reflect profound pain and gratitude for their support throughout her life. Additionally, she opens up the important topic of mental health struggles and seeking support in challenging moments.