SportsAid athlete Chris Hoy becomes most successful British Olympian of all time
07 Aug 2012
Sir Chris Hoy went one better than his fellow SportsAid alumnus Sir Steve Redgrave on August 7 by winning the sixth Olympic gold medal of his career, in the men’s keirin at London 2012.
After dominant performances in the heats, Hoy was pushed hard in the final by German rider Maximilian Levy who overtook him in the last 250m, but in true champion style Hoy fought back to overtake him before the line to a massive response from the crowd.
It was an emotional end to the Olympics for Hoy who showed his appreciation to the supporters in the velodrome and you could see just how much it meant to him as he stepped onto the podium with tears running down his face. While the flying Scot has said he will continue riding after the Games, there was still the sense that this is the end of an era.
"I'm in shock,” he said. “You try to compose yourself but it's surreal. I wanted to win gold in front of my home crowd. I saw everyone stepping up to the plate and thankfully it worked out for me too.”
Fittingly, Redgrave was among the first people to congratulate him. “That was absolutely amazing. Are you going to race in the Olympics again? I’m making a comeback,” he joked.
"I'm 99.9 per cent sure I won't be competing in Rio,” said Hoy. “How can you top this? Glasgow is another question, as that would be the dream ending for me.
"The keirin is a lottery and you never take anything for granted in it. I can't describe the feelings I have at the moment. This is enough for me - this is the perfect end to my Olympic career.
"I can't put into words what it means to me. It's one of the greatest feelings I have ever had.”
SportsAid’s hot tip for the future of British track cycling: Tao Geoghegan-Hart.
Photo: Action Images
SportsAid's Patron
As SportsAid’s patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge is helping to shine a light on the achievements and potential of young athletes throughout the UK – an inspiring generation who one day hope to represent the nation at the Olympic or Paralympic Games. SportsAid alumnus Sir Chris Hoy welcomed the patronage by saying, “SportsAid played an important role when I was starting out so I know what a huge boost this will be to the young sportsmen and women the charity helps today. As patron Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will give them the profile they deserve.”
