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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Andrew Hoy |
| Nickname | The Real McHoy |
| Born | (1976-03-23) 23 March 1976 (age 48) Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14.5 st) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | You have called {{Contentious topics}}. You probably meant to call one of these templates instead:
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Miscellaneous
|
| Discipline | Track |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Sprinter |
| Medal record | |
Sir Christopher Andrew "Chris" Hoy, MBE (born 23 March 1976 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish track cyclist representing Great Britain and Scotland. He is a multiple world champion and winner of six Olympic Games medals, five of which are gold medals. With his three gold medals in Beijing 2008, Hoy became Scotland's most successful Olympian, the first Briton to win three gold medals in a single Olympic games since Henry Taylor, in 1908, and the second most successful Olympic cyclist, after Bradley Wiggins. After winning one gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics, Hoy became the most successful British Olympian.
Education and early life
Hoy was educated at George Watson's College, a Scottish independent school in Edinburgh, followed by the University of St Andrews in 1996. He subsequently transferred to the University of Edinburgh, from where he graduated B.Sc. (Hons.) in Applied Sports Science in 1999.
Hoy was inspired to cycle at age six by the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Before track cycling, Hoy raced BMX between the ages of 7 and 14 and was ranked second in Britain, fifth in Europe, and ninth in the world. He received sponsorship from Slazenger and Kwik-Fit, and was competing in Europe and the U.S. Hoy also rowed for the Scottish junior team, coming second in the 1993 British championship with Grant Florence in the coxless pairs. He played rugby as part of his school's team.
Hoy joined his first cycling club, Dunedin C.C., in 1992, and began concentrating on track cycling in 1994, when he joined the City of Edinburgh Racing Club.
Achievements
1999–2007 career
The Kilo and the Team Sprint
Hoy's main events were the 1 km Time Trial, known as the Kilo, and the Team Sprint. It was in the Team Sprint that he collected his first World Championship medal, a Silver in 1999. This event involved the three riders, a simultaneous standing start, completing three laps of the 250 m track, with one rider taking the front for each lap and then dropping out. Hoy usually rides as the third man in this event, completing the closing lap. Regular team mates in the Team Sprint over the years have included Craig Maclean, Ross Edgar, Jamie Staff, Jason Queally, Matthew Crampton and Jason Kenny. The team's first World Title came in 2002, in the Ballerup Velodrome, Copenhagen. Hoy also won the Kilo title the same year beating Arnaud Tournant by 1/1000 of a second. A medal has been achieved in the Team Sprint each year since at the World Championships, including a further Gold in 2005. The team's regular opponents in recent years have been the French team.
Hoy was also the world's best 1 km Time Trial rider for a number of years, before ceasing to ride the event when it was removed from the Olympic programme after the 2004 games. This is a raw power sprinting event, which involves the rider covering one kilometre (four laps) as fast as possible from a standing start. His first World Title came in this event in 2002, followed by further titles in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He won the event at the 2004 Olympics, his first Olympic title.
Post-2004 Olympics
Following the decision to remove the Kilo from the Olympic programme after the 2004 games, Hoy sought to develop in other events. The first of these was the Keirin. This event involves between six and eight riders following a small motorbike (the Derny) around the 250m track for 5.5 laps, as the bike slowly builds up the speed. The bike pulls off with 2.5 laps to go and it is an all out fight for the line. Hoy had previously competed at the Keirin in various events but one of his first major successes was at the Manchester round of the World Cup Classics Series in 2007, shortly before the World Championships. His victory in this event carried forward into the World Championships and he came home first to take the title, ahead of team mate Ross Edgar.
This was a milestone for Hoy as it showed he was developing from just a pure power sprinter, in events like the Kilo and Team Sprint, into also being one of the best in the world at more tactical sprinting events like the Keirin and the Sprint.
2007 world record attempt
On May 12th 2007, Hoy attempted the world record for the kilometre. He fell 0.005 seconds short, clocking 58.880. He set a record for the 500m flying start at 24.758 seconds, over a second less than the 25.850 set by Arnaud Duble. Hoy set the sea-level kilometre record of 1 minute 0.711 seconds by winning the Olympics in Athens in 2004. The outright record of 58.875 seconds is held by Arnaud Tournant (France), set during 2001 at altitude in La Paz, Bolivia, where Hoy also attempted to break the record. Only 3 sub-60sec kilos have ever been ridden, Hoy recorded two of these over two days in La Paz.
Hoy's main achievement is his development in the individual sprint event considered to be the blue riband event of track cycling. Kilo riders like Hoy have historically not fared as well at this event, as they were less experienced in the tactical elements required for the sprint. Previously, Hoy had competed in the sprint at various World Cup events and Revolution meetings in Manchester, but it was not one of his main events and he did not compete in it at the World Championships or the Olympics. In the semi finals Hoy defeated Italian veteran Roberto Chiappa 2–0, to set up a meeting in the final against France's Kevin Sireau. Sireau was the World Cup Classics points winner for the season and had defeated Hoy 2–0 in their previous meeting only a few weeks earlier. However with the vocal Manchester crowd behind him Hoy was not to be denied victory and he completed the win 2–0, the first British man to win the sprint title in 52 years since Reg Harris.
2008 Olympics
Hoy became the first British Olympian for 100 years to claim three golds at one games at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. This came when he won the men's keirin, the men's team sprint and also the men's individual sprint.
The three man team sprint squad included Hoy, Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff. Kenny replaced Ross Edgar just before the games. They defeated the French by a clear margin, despite the French team's previous dominance of the event.
The keirin was Hoy's second gold medal of the 2008 games, when he came home clear winner ahead of team mate Edgar.
Hoy reached the final round of the individual sprint without a glitch, where his opponent turned out to be his young team mate, Jason Kenny. Kenny was a junior world champion who had achieved a number of high placings. Hoy used his greater experience to defeat Kenny, completing his hat trick of Olympic titles.
2008/09 track season
Hoy did not race at the first major event of the 2008/09 season, the World Cup Classics Event in Manchester on 31 October – 2 November. He instead made an appearance to sign autographs and commentate with the BBC. He made his return to racing in the UK at the Revolution 22 event in Manchester in December. He received a standing ovation from the Manchester faithful at the start of the event when he was introduced to the crowd. At this event Hoy won both the Sprint and Keirin competitions, defeating likes of Jason Kenny, Jamie Staff, Ross Edgar, Matthew Crampton and Teun Mulder along the way. Hoy competed in the World Cup Classics series' final event in Copenhagen, Denmark in February, helping his team to a gold medal in the team sprint event. However, he crashed out during the men's Keirin final and was forced to miss the final day of competition, including the men's sprint. Although at first, his injury seemed minor, he returned to Manchester where, following a scan, he was diagnosed with a serious de-gloving injury which finished his season and kept him off his bike for almost 3 months. He was unable to compete as planned at the Revolution 24 event in Manchester the following weekend, he did however make an appearance at the event. He has had to pull out of the World Championships in Poland at the end of March, where he would have attempted to win 2 World titles, because of the hip injury.
2009/10 track season
Hoy started the 09/10 track season at the National Cycling Centre, Manchester at the British National Championships where he took only his second (and third) ever individual national titles. He took gold medals in the Keirin, Sprint and was part of the Team Sprint Team representing team SKY along with Jamie Staff and Jason Kenny. Two weeks later, he raced in round one of the UCI World Cup at the same venue and took gold in the Mens Keirin. He then went into day 2 of the competition and took gold in the sprint event, beating fellow Brit Matthew Crampton in the final 2–0. A third World Cup gold came in the Team Sprint on the Sunday. Having ridden and won 12 events over the weekend, he withdrew from the International Japanese Keirin which was consequently won by team mate Matt Crampton. At the 2010 UCI World Championships, Hoy was beaten in the quarter final of the men's sprint event by his German opponent, Robert Förstemann, who won after making an attack from the start line. He was part of the GB men's team sprint that took the bronze. In the Keirin event, Hoy won the gold medal, despite crashing in the heats, to take his tenth world title.
2010/11 track season
Hoy lost in the first round of the men's sprint at the European Championships to Ireland's Felix English. At the Manchester World Cup event in February 2011, Hoy lost in the semi-finals to Jason Kenny. Hoy took the match sprint title at the British National Championships in October 2011.
2011/12 track season
At the 2012 World Cup event held in the new London Velodrome, Hoy won three medals. He won gold in the keirin and bronze in the team sprint, before winning gold in the Men's Sprint, losing just one race in four rounds.
2012 Olympics
Hoy led Team GB out as the team's flag carrier at the opening ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games. He then went on to win gold in the team sprint with Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes, setting a new world record in the London Velopark and becoming Team GB's joint gold record holder equalling Steve Redgrave's tally of five gold medals.
Honours
Hoy was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "for services to cycling" in the 2005 New Year Honours.
On 26 November 2008, Hoy was named as Sportsman of the Year by the Sports Journalists' Association of Great Britain, winning a ballot of its membership ahead of Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie.
On 14 December 2008, Hoy was also named as BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He finished ahead of Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington. Hoy became the second cyclist ever to win the award after Tommy Simpson in 1965.
Hoy was knighted in the 2009 New Year Honours "for services to Sport".
In June 2009, Hoy was inducted to the University of Edinburgh's Sports Hall of Fame.
Train operating company SouthEastern named a high-speed Class 395 train after him.
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, is named in his honour.
Honorary degrees
- 2005 — Honorary Doctor of Science, University of Edinburgh
- 2009 — Honorary Doctor of Science, University of St Andrews
2012 Olympics
Hoy is an ambassador for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the Scottish National Velodrome being built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is to be named in his honour. Sir Chris Hoy heads Britain's cycling team for London Olympics 2012. He was chosen to carry the flag for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the London Games. He also claimed a new world record in the mens team sprint finals.
Personal life
Hoy is married to Sarra Kemp, a lawyer from Edinburgh. They were engaged on 11 April 2009, and were married on 17 April 2010 at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh. They now live in Salford, Greater Manchester.
He supports his hometown football team Heart of Midlothian.
Bibliography
Hoy is the subject of a book by Richard Moore, Heroes, Villains and Velodromes: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution, published in June 2008 by Harper Collins. (ISBN 9780007265312)
Hoy's autobiography, Chris Hoy: the Autobiography, was published by Harper Collins in October 2009. (ISBN 9780007311316)
Medal history
- 1999 –
Team sprint - 2000 – Team sprint
- 2001 –
Team sprint - 2002 –
1 km time trial; Team sprint - 2003 – Team sprint
- 2004 – 1 km time trial; Team sprint
- 2005 – Team sprint; 1 km time trial
- 2006 – 1 km time trial; Team sprint
- 2007 – Keirin; 1 km time trial; Team sprint
- 2008 – Sprint; Keirin; Team sprint
- 2010 – Keirin; Team sprint
- 2011 – Keirin; Team sprint; Sprint
- 2012 – Keirin; Sprint
- Olympic Games
- 2000 –
Team sprint (with Craig MacLean and Jason Queally) - 2004 –
1 km track time trial - 2008 – Team sprint (with Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff); Keirin; Sprint
- 2012 – Team sprint (with Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes)
- Commonwealth Games
- 2002 – 1 km time trial; Team sprint (with Craig MacLean and Ross Edgar)
- 2006 – Team sprint (with Craig MacLean and Ross Edgar); 1 km time trial
- Special awards
- 2003, 2008 – BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year
- 2008 – BBC Sports Personality of the Year
See also
- Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
- Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
References
- Neil Wilson (28 March 2008). "Real McHoy sprints to his golden grand slam". London: Mail Online.
- ^ "Chris Hoy Champion Cyclist". Chris Hoy official website.
- "Chris Hoy is on course to become Scotland's greatest Olympian". The Scotsman. 15 August 2008.
- "London 2012 Olympics: David Cameron says too many top British athletes went to public school". The Telegraph. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|authors=ignored (help) - Deborah Charles (2008-08-19). "E.T. fan Hoy is out of this world". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ^ "Biography". chrishoy.com.
- "Inspiration – Heroes: Chris Hoy, cyclist". BBC Wales. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
- "Confident Hoy Right On Track". Eurosport. 2008-03-25.
- Jill Douglas (13 May 2007). "Hoy sets new world best over 500m". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- William Fotheringham (2008-08-20). "Olympics: Impenetrable Hoy joins greats after sprinting to third gold". London: The Guardian.
- ^ "Velodrome honour for golden Hoy". BBC Sport. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- "Hoy resolute after strong return". BBC Sport. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- "Crash ends keirin hopes for Hoy". BBC Sport. 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- "Hoy to miss World Championships". BBC News. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
- Bevan, Chris (25 March 2010). "Hoy claims 10th world track title". BBC News.
- Fotheringham, William (18 February 2011). "Great Britain women strike gold as Chris Hoy loses out to Jason Kenny". The Guardian. London.
- Sir Chris Hoy makes statement of intent in single match sprint victory | Sport | guardian.co.uk
- BBC Sport - Track World Cup: Sir Chris Hoy storms to sprint gold in London
- "Sir Chris Hoy's 'immense pride' at leading out Olympic Team GB". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- "Joy as three golds push Team GB up medals table". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- "Chris Hoy claims fifth Olympic gold medal as Britain win team sprint". guardian.co.uk. The Guardian. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- "No. 57509". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 31 December 2004. - "Sports Personality 2008: Hoy wins Sports Personality of the Year". BBC. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
- "No. 58929". The London Gazette (invalid
|supp=(help)). 31 December 2008. - "Hoy Inducted into University's Sports Hall of Fame". Retrieved 2009-06-30.
- "Honorary Degrees June 2009". 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- "London 2012: Sir Chris Hoy leads strong GB team for London". 13 June 2012.
- Gallagher, Ian (24 August 2008). "Mail Online news". London: Mail Online.
- "Olympic cyclist Sir Chris marries". BBC. 17 April 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
- Norwood, Graham (5 January 2009). "Golden opportunity: Join Chris Hoy as he makes a dash for the Brazilian coast". London: The Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
- "Hearts-felt support: Sir Chris backed by Jambos as he goes for gold". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ Stokes, Shane (6 January 2012). "UCI confirms Jason Kenny, Germany are upgraded to 2011 world track champions". VeloNation. VeloNation LLC. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
External links
- Official website
- Chris Hoy Rider Profile – Cycling Weekly
- "Chris Hoy – Olympic Record". British Olympic Association.
- http://www.gwc.org.uk/cms/our-school/our-former-pupils/
- Larry Hickmott (22 March 2007). "Pre-World Championship Interview: Chris Hoy". British Cycling.
- Larry Hickmott (7 February 2007). "Chris Hoy Fighting to Hang onto Olympic Gold". British Cycling.
- Donald McRae (25 March 2008). "'I just rode round in disbelief for a few seconds'". London: The Guardian.
| Olympic Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byMark Foster | Flagbearer for  Great Britain London 2012 |
Succeeded byIncumbent |
- Knights Bachelor
- 1976 births
- Living people
- Scottish athletes
- Sports scientists
- Sports players and officials awarded knighthoods
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- BBC Scotland Sports Personality of the Year
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners
- Bicycle motocross riders
- Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Scotland
- Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Scotland
- Olympic cyclists of Great Britain
- Cyclists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Cyclists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
- Cyclists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Cyclists at the 2008 Summer Olympics
- Cyclists at the 2012 Summer Olympics
- Cyclists at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
- Olympic gold medalists for Great Britain
- Olympic silver medalists for Great Britain
- People educated at George Watson's College
- Sportspeople from Edinburgh
- Scottish cyclists
- Track cyclists
- UCI World Champions
- Olympic medalists in cycling
- Male cyclists
- Torch bearers at the 2012 Summer Olympics