Pendleton ends career on a high at Olympics

Victoria Pendleton brought the curtain down on a spectacular career with an Olympic silver medal in the sprint.

The British sprinter lost out to her rival Anna Meares (Australia) in the final despite a narrow win in their first race. In a reverse of their match at the World Championships this year, it was Pendleton who was relegated for coming out of the sprinter's lane.

In the second race, Meares showed incredible skill to trackstand at the top of the exit of bend three on an impossible gradient. Pendleton couldn't hold her bike still and was forced to roll around in front of Meares and take the lead.

As soon as Pendleton went to the front, she slowly built her speed over the next two laps and gave Meares an armchair ride to the finish.

It wasn't the way Pendleton would have wanted to end her career, and may wish the sprint was scheduled before the keirin on the Olympic programme, but a silver and a gold is a fine way to sign off after 23 years of bike racing.

Pendleton retires with nine world titles, two Olympic titles and an Olympic silver. Only Meares comes close to such a haul of accolades.

There is likely to be a tinge of disappointment to the result as the sprint is the one that Pendleton wanted, and viewed the keirin as a bonus. She only missed out on a medal in the team sprint because of another relegation as Jess Varnish was judged to have swung up too early.

"I am just so relieved right now. I am just so overwhelmed with emotion," Pendleton said after the sprint finale. "I would have loved to have won in my final race. At the same time, I am just so glad I am done and I can move on." 

Pendleton was gracious in defeat and said of her long-time rival Meares: "I am glad it got to that stage because I believe she's the best rider on the field. Anna and myself in the final. We have met many a time. I wish her all the best. I am glad to say that this is the last time I have to go through this." 

However, Pendleton's second relegation of the Games at the hands of the commissaires obviously stung. "I was really annoyed because I was sure that she [Meares] touched me and it caused me to move up. I cannot believe twice in one competition that I have been relegated, disqualified, it's unheard of. It's a bit of surprise. It did knock my confidence a bit, I have to say. I really tried in that last ride. I don't know. Sorry. This is it. I cannot believe it's all over."

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London 2012: Photos

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