Australian Olympic great brings mourners to tears by delivering eulogy at his own funeral

Australian Olympic gold medallist Dean Woods brought his family and friends to tears by delivering his own eulogy to his wife and children on Tuesday.

Woods died at the age of 55 earlier this month after a battle with lung cancer. He was best known as a member of the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ team pursuit squad. The prodigious cyclist was wearing the same suit he was buried in when he appeared in a pre-recorded video, which was shot weeks before his death. The video was played on a big projector screen behind his casket at the Wangaratta Performing Arts and Convention Centre.

Woods’ wife and three children had not seen the video before and were left incredibly moved by the emotional video. “I’m well prepared, even though I’m in the box in front of you,” Woods said. “This will be the suit I’ll be put in the box in. (I’ve) even got the torch…in there just in case it gets dark.”

Woods' wife of 28 years, Meagan, expressed the whole family were ‘devastated’. “We’re going home tomorrow and I think that’s when the reality will hit,” she said, via The Herald Sun. “Especially for myself and the girls, because we have had such a wonderful distraction. I think once we get back home and into the swing of things, the silence will be deafening.”

The service reportedly began with footage of Woods and his teammates winning gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics before ending with a tribute from his wife of 28 years. Woods had just celebrated his 18th birthday when he claimed gold in the team pursuit having upset the favoured United States quartet at the 1984 Games.

Woods, Mike Turtur, Michael Grenda and Kevin Nichols clinched Australia's first Olympic gold medal since 1956. Their upset led to the squad's nickname, ‘Charlie’s Angels’ -