Farewell is not sad for star.

NORTHUMBRIA University graduate Victoria Pendleton is happy to be retiring after bowing out by picking up a silver medal in front of her home crowd.

Pendleton reached the final of the women's sprint competition but was beaten by Australian Anna Meares.

And she insisted she was more than happy to be leaving her last Olympics with a silver to add to the gold she had already won in the keirin.

"I'm just relieved it's all over," said the 31-year-old, who won her first Olympic gold at Meares' expense in Beijing four years ago.

"This has been the hardest four years of my whole life. Coming in as Olympic champion and with a home Games to live up to, you just can't imagine it. I'm just overwhelmed with the feeling right now that I never have to go through this again."

Meanwhile, Sir Chris Hoy said it was "an amazing thing" to be congratulated trackside on becoming Britain's most successful Olympian with six gold medals by Sir Steve Redgrave.

Sir Chris's victory in the men's keirin at London 2012 velodrome saw him climb above Sir Steve, the five-time Olympic rowing champion, in terms of the number of medals won.

Sir Chris, 36, said: "He (Steve Redgrave) just congratulated me and said 'what an amazing performance'.

To have that from Sir Steve who when I was a junior at school was someone I looked up to - it is just an amazing thing."

And another amazing night for British sport saw the Brownlee brothers race to Olympic glory in one of the most dramatic races yet at London 2012.

Alistair Brownlee took gold in the Triathlon while his brother Jonny won bronze - despite being given a 15-second penalty. As he closed in on victory Alistair grabbed a Union flag from the crowd, wrapped it around his shoulders and walked triumphantly across the finish line in Hyde Park.

He waited to embrace his brother who had to fight incredibly hard to overcome the penalty given for mounting his bike too quickly after swimming the Serpentine.

Britain had never won a triathlon medal before but Alistair was favourite, having dominated triathlon over the last four years.

The two brothers were roared on by vast crowds around the course in central London, and also by fans in their home city of Leeds. Alistair said: "To get two of us, two brothers, two British brothers, on the podium is absolutely...

you couldn't ask for any more."

? More Olympic coverage: Page 58

CAPTION(S):

FOND FAREWELL Victoria Pendleton waves to fans after losing out on a gold medal GOLDEN BOY Great Britain''s Alistair Brownlee celebrates with his triathlon gold medal LEGEND Great Britain's Sir Chris Hoy celebrates winning Gold in the Men's Keirin