Family for Pendleton

Track queen putting family first after bowing out of cycling

Last Updated: August 8, 2012 10:41am

Track queen Victoria Pendleton is looking forward to spending more time with friends and family after calling time on her track career.

"At times I thought I wasn't going to make it so even getting here I feel quite proud of myself for getting here."
Victoria Pendleton Quotes of the week

The 31-year-old bowed out with a silver medal in the cycling women's sprint title following a 2-0 defeat to Australian Anna Meares.

Pendleton has spent four years preparing to defend her Olympic title and is relishing the prospect of a fully-deserved break.

"It's one of the biggest things for me, having more time with my friends and family," she told Sky Sports.

"I've neglected them for so long and missed out on so many occasions. I can't wait to be around them more and be part of their lives."

Proud

Pendleton does not see ending her career with silver as a low, stating the double-medal haul in London is more than she expected.

"I think it'll take me a few days to get around the fact that I finished on a low, as some might think," she continued.

"My ambition was to come to this Games and get on the podium at least once. To win a gold and a silver, I'm really proud of that.

"The last four years have been the hardest four years of my life I must admit. Being the reigning Olympic champion coming into a home Games was always going to be hard.

"At times I thought I wasn't going to make it so even getting here I feel quite proud of myself for getting here. To come away with two medals I think is more than what I believed was possible."