The tragic loss of two friends that forced Emma Trott to quit cycling revealed as she defends ‘bitter’ TV interview about ‘pain in the a**e’ sister Laura
LAURA Trott's sister Emma was forced to quit cycling in her prime after the tragic loss of two close friends.
It emerged as she defended her "bitter" interview with Good Morning Britain yesterday morning, claiming the backlash was "a lot of fuss made out of nothing".
Personal trainer Emma came under fire after she gave a painfully awkward interview to the ITV breakfast show, where she seemed underwhelmed by her sibling’s efforts.
Today she told the : "That achievement what she achieved is no different to what anybody else in a walk of life has achieved, just because she's done it in the public eye that it's deemed different.
"Like I said to her yesterday, before I did that [ITV] interview, she's been a pain in my a*** for the last 20-odd years but it's a pain that I would never want to go away. I wouldn't know what to do without my little sister."
She added she was stunned by the reaction, which prompted Laura to stick up for her.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, the double gold medal winner claimed older sibling Emma was her "idol" growing up and supports her "through thick and thin".
The cycling world was stunned back in 2014 when Emma, 26, announced her retirement.
Her premature exit from the sport she and her sister love was down to two personal tragedies and her struggle to be away from girlfriend and fellow cyclist Linda Villumsen, from New Zealand.
In an emotional post-race interview after her final event, Emma explained: "I’ve not said anything until now, but I’m retiring after this race, so today means a lot more to me.
"I lost two dear friends of mine, and that changed my perspective on life.
"I’ve been a pro for seven years, I’ve raced for 14, and I’ve enjoyed it. I have no regrets."
She admitted she found it hard to leave Linda in New Zealand to compete in the race - a problem which eventually became too tough for her to cope with, and Emma is now based there too.
Emma said: "I started thinking it at the end of last year. I love cycling, and that’s the problem.
"I signed a deal with the team anyway, and sometimes when you’ve had a break you can come back mentally.
"I went on training camp, and I didn’t want to be there, I wanted to get home so badly.
"I raced, and the feelings weren’t the same as they were five years ago."
Today Laura insisted that 'bitterness' and 'envy' on her sister's part could not be further from the truth.
She told GMB's Nick Dixon in Rio: "She was the first person that I spoke to after winning and we didn't talk about gold medals, we spoke about everything else but, and I couldn't be more happy that she is the way she is with me.”
Speaking about her newfound fame since becoming Great Britian's most successful Olympic female competitor, she admitted: "It feels kind of surreal for me, like I've all of a sudden become this kind of idol, which just seems mad because for me it's always been about just enjoying my bike riding."
On her relationship with fiance Jason Kenny being in the public eye, Laura said: “Because it is the pair of us, it's kind of shot us into this weird, almost celebrity lifestyle and, yeah, I guess I don't think it's going to sink in until I get home.
"I've already been asked do I want security to go through the airport which kind of freaks me out a little bit."
Related Stories
Laura had already spoken out to defend her sibling, tweeting yesterday: "Reading some nasty messages re my sister this morning.. Bitter, Jelous? If only you people knew! She is one of my biggest supporters.
"To me I am just her sister! I am not a 'hero' a 'celebrity'.. Shes been there for me through thick and thin!! She was my idol growing up..
"Yes she was working while I raced! I'm sure a lot of people who care about me were? I love my sister to the moon, so all u nasty people #shh
"I love you @EmmaTrott1989 thats all that matters right X".