Cyclist Chris Hoy crowned Scotland's greatest ever Olympican after second gold

Aug 17 2008 By Steve Dinneen

CHRIS HOY pedalled his way into the history books by becoming Scotland's greatest-ever Olympian with his THIRD gold medal.

Hoy blew away the field to win the men's keirin - a day after winning gold in the men's team sprint and four years after his first medal triumph in Athens.

And 25-year-old Ross Edgar made it a Scottish one-two by clinching silver.

Hoy's proud parents Carol and David and girlfriend Sarra Kemp watched his hat-trick as they proudly waved a flag with the slogan "Chris Hoy - Real McHoy".

They even defied an Olympic ban on flying flags of non-competing nations by painting little Saltires on their banner.

Sister Carrie went one step further by unfurling a giant Saltire.

Hoy, 32, completed a gold rush which saw Britain enjoy its best day at the Olympics for 100 years.

He said: "I can't sum up what's happened - it's beyond expectations.

"Every event has just been amazing - it has been such a fantastic experience and I'll always remember it.

"I'm so emotional now - I'm just trying to keep a lid on it because I have another race to go.

"I don't think about the medals at all until the event is over."

Hoy's achievement is even more astonishing given that the 1km sprint - for which he won gold in Athens - was controversially scrapped for these games.

He said: "I thought it could have been the end of my career when my event was scrapped.

"But to come back to win a different event altogether is just fantastic, it really is."

After the emotional presentation, Hoy leapt into the crowd to hug his parents and long-term girlfriend, Edinburgh solicitor Sarra.

Hoy had promised to dance live on TV if he won three gold medals.

He could extend his Olympic haul further in the men's track cycling sprint final.

Asked how he felt about being Scotland's greatest, he said: "Am I? I never realised."

The stunning achievement moves Hoy clear of the previous recordholding Scots Olympian - 1970s yachtsman Rodney Pattison, who won two golds and a silver.

First Minister Alex Salmond hailed Scotland's new national hero, calling the race a "Braveheart final".

He said: "This is a fantastic achievement for Chris Hoy, and Scotland's greatest sporting moment at the Olympics of all time. This was the Braveheart final, and Chris and Ross Edgar did Scotland proud."

Uncle Derek Hoy, brother of Chris' dad, celebrated the triumph with his wife Christine at home in Edinburgh.

He said: "This is a great reward for Chris' hard work. It has not been an overnight sensation but a lot of hard work and dedication.

"We know exactly what Chris has been through to get this far. We know he punishes his body and he takes it through the pain barrier. We've watched films of his training and he drives himself on and on.

"One film shows him literally fall off the bike but you need that determination to succeed at his level."

Derek added: "At 8am, we had bacon rolls and when he did the business we popped the champagne corks. We know how to party. We had one on Friday when he won gold in the team sprint.

"We had one today and we'll keep having them until he is finished with the Games. There was a roar as he crossed the line and tears as the flag was raised at the ceremony.

"Some people have suggested that he should be Sir Chris but that's for after he stops racing and he plans to go on."

Sprinter Allan Wells, 56, who won gold in the 100 metres at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, said: "Chris is the greatest Olympian Scotland has produced.

"He is the sort of athlete we will get once in a lifetime. We can all be very proud because he has not just won gold for Britain but also Scotland.

"The Scottish attitude will have helped him in the same way it helped me. We are self-conscious in a way that makes us very committed and disciplined. When we get in a position to do well we take it."

Liz McColgan, 44, the 10,000 metres silver winner at Seoul in 1988, said: "It's amazing that Chris has managed to get another gold medal.

"The hard work and dedication he has put in over the last eight years means it is thoroughly deserved.

"His performance is great for Scotland and for Chris himself.

"I am sure over the next few months there will be a lot of kids getting bikes and dreaming about being the next Chris Hoy."

Hoy was inspired to gold by a video of rugby coach Ian McGeechan's team talk to the British Lions in 1997.

McGeechan told them: "You'll meet each other in the street in 30 years and there'll just be a look (between you).

"And you'll know just how special some days in your life are."

THREE CHEERS FROM US ALL

HOY is aiming for a recordbreaking third Beijing gold. He is expected to win through today's qualifiers for the sprint. Then all of Scotland is set to watch the final on Tuesday. Get out your Saltires!

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