Victoria Pendleton's devastating family tragedy, secret health battle and finding love on TV show

Boasting two Olympic golds, one silver and a host of world, European and Commonwealth titles, Victoria Pendleton ranks among Britain's greatest-ever cyclists, earning her place alongside legends such as Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Laura and Jason Kenny in the record books.

The most iconic moment of her career arguably came at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where she claimed her second gold medal in the keirin before taking silver in the sprint. Her beaming smile while standing on the podium at the Lee Valley Velodrome became one of the most unforgettable images from that remarkable summer.

Yet beneath the surface, Pendleton - who celebrated her 45th birthday on Wednesday - was struggling. Away from the spotlight, her relationship with her team had deteriorated, while the cycling champion had also struggled with certain elements of her punishing training schedule. Following her decision to retire after her final race in London, she admitted to feeling as though she had been "bullied out of the team".

• Sir Chris Hoy cancer latest - heartbreaking message from doctors, tumours that broke his back
• Wayne Rooney lifts lid on alcohol addiction - 'I'd be dead if not for Coleen'

It came after a difficult few years for the cyclist, with her teammates reportedly left "disgusted" and feeling betrayed after she concealed her romance with Team GB sports scientist Scott Gardner throughout the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Pendleton has spoken about a hostile team atmosphere, claiming that her coach Shane Sutton instructed her to "be more of a b****" while she was also left feeling sick as she forced herself to eat in order to reach her competition weight.

The nightmare reached its peak at the 2012 Games, when her coaches departed the Olympic village without even bidding her farewell. While she had established herself as one of Team GB's greatest ever female Olympians, she revealed that her experiences had left her feeling "like a fraud".

"I did feel very much bullied out of the team," she told the Guardian. "I twisted the story to make it sound like it was my own choosing, whereas the reality was I didn't have the strength to walk in there another day.

"After my last event, everybody was disappointed because I only won silver. My coaches left the village without saying goodbye. I didn't expect them to. Why would they? They were glad to be rid of me.

"I always felt like a fraud," she added. "I felt so disappointed in myself and what I achieved. I don't know when the time will be that I'll look back and feel proud."

Yet retirement has also presented a string of tough obstacles for Pendleton, from the collapse of her marriage to the heartbreaking loss of her twin brother. Severe depression also meant she found herself "minutes away" from taking her own life, but she has courageously battled back to find happiness, health and love once more.

Marriage breakdown and fresh romance

Following their romance which sparked controversy within the British cycling squad, Pendleton went on to marry Gardner in 2013. However five years later, she revealed that the pair had chosen to separate.

"Despite our best efforts in trying to make our marriage work, we have come to the decision to go our separate ways," she wrote on social media. "It has been an extremely difficult time and a tough decision to make. We want to look ahead to the future and stay positive. We would both gratefully appreciate our privacy being respected as we navigate what is a deeply personal time for us."

But Pendleton found love again after meeting ex-special forces operative Louis Tinsley on Channel 4's reality programme SAS: Who Dares Wins, the year after her separation from Gardner. After the series finished, they started dating, spending lockdown as a couple and sharing a string of loved-up photos of them together on social media.

Tinsley, who completed 14 years of military service, also co-founded performance outerwear firm ThruDark, and describes himself on his Instagram profile as an "under-water fightin', steely 'd dealer of death, man of many means and death-defying feats."

Pendleton has also spoken candidly about not having children, saying it's a choice she's "totally happy" with.

Speaking to MailOnline, she explained: "In my 20s, I knew people wanted me to settle down and live the fairy tale. And because I spent so much of my life living an atypical existence, I thought I needed to cram it all in before it was too late.

"Then I retired and an intriguing thought occurred to me: what would it be like not to try to please people? I'd put everything on hold for sport, and hadn't had the freedom to do what I wanted when I wanted. So clinging onto normality - like getting married - was a form of security blanket. I was fitting into the system.

"Then you get to your 30s and everyone starts watch-tapping," she added. "You're supposedly pre-conditioned to want children. But the truth is I have no desire to have them, and now I feel much more inclined to be honest with myself and go with my gut instinct."

Mental health struggle

Pendleton faced another terrifying experience after taking on a charity mission to scale Everest in 2018, joined by TV host Ben Fogle while being filmed for a CNN documentary.

But while Fogle made it to the peak, the former Team GB champion had to pull out of the ascent at nearly 21,000 feet after displaying symptoms of hypoxia, brought on by oxygen shortage. She subsequently developed chest and ear infections, requiring three weeks of antibiotic treatment, but she was warned by medical staff that her oxygen deprivation might spark episodes of depression.

True to their warnings, Pendleton later battled severe depression that almost drove her to end her own life, as she made the devastating admission to the Telegraph that she came "minutes away" from committing suicide.

"Everything I took made me feel less like myself," she said as she opened up on the terrifying episode. "There were mornings I woke up and I thought 'I don't want to see the end of the day."

However, the former cyclist later "turned a corner," as she explained: "That doesn't mean I won't be more cautious in the future, if I start to feel similar symptoms. But I feel I'd be better prepared at least.

"I guess that's why I'm speaking out now. In case my personal experience can trigger something of use and value for someone else."

Family heartbreak

The Olympian endured further devastation in 2023 when her beloved twin brother Alex died aged just 42.

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, however, his cancer came back as he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died two years later.

A devastated Pendleton shared the heartbreaking news on social media, writing: "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."

The former cyclist has since worked tirelessly to honour her brother's memory, participating in the Channel 4 highwire challenge show Don't Look Down in 2023, to raise funds for Stand Up 2 Cancer.

During the programme, she became emotional as she discussed losing Alex, saying: "I can't do this without thinking about my brother. My brother is here, always. And I would do anything to help him."

Having previously credited her brother as the driving force behind her sporting success, Pendleton has also paid tribute to him by having 'Alex' inked across her chest. The tattoo features a heart design, with 'Alex' written on a banner across it.