Tributes paid to retiring Hoy

Tributes have poured in to Sir Chris Hoy after he announced his retirement from cycling
19 April 2013

Sir Chris Hoy had an "unparalleled impact" on his sport, British Cycling President Brian Cookson has said after the six-time Olympic champion confirmed his retirement.

The 37-year-old Scot had been contemplating continuing until the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but confirmed he was quitting the sport at a lunchtime press conference in Edinburgh. He exits the arena as Britain's most decorated Olympian, having won two golds in London to overhaul Sir Steve Redgrave's record of five.

Cookson said: "The impact that Sir Chris Hoy has had on our sport since he won his first gold medal in Athens in 2004 is unparalleled. It goes without saying that not only is Chris an absolutely phenomenal athlete, but he is also an exceptional individual."

Sir Dave Brailsford, the performance director of the Great Britain team, said: "I can't speak highly enough of Chris and his career. On a personal note I will never forget his Kilo in Athens - it was one of the most epic Olympic moments that I've ever experienced, the tension in the build-up was unreal."

Hoy is an ambassador for Glasgow 2014 and David Grevemberg, chief executive of the Games, added: "Sir Chris is not only Britain's greatest Olympian, he is an inspiration and a first-class Ambassador for Scotland and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games."

Mark Cavendish, the former track star who has won 23 individual Tour de France stages and became world road race champion in 2011, said: "He's one of the most professional athletes I've ever seen, one of the nicest men, on and off the bike, that I've ever met. What he's done for cycling for this country has been bigger than anybody can even put into words."

Louise Martin, chair of SportScotland paid tribute to Hoy's role as an ambassador in his home country. She said: "Sir Chris has achieved an unprecedented level of success in sport, yet has always remained remarkably modest about his incredible achievements."

Jason Kenny, who won the team sprint with Hoy in Beijing and was a double-gold medallist in London, said: "In terms of Chris's contribution to the sport, he has just always been there as far as I'm concerned. All the years that I have been involved in the sport, Chris has always been there at the very top level."

Victoria Pendleton, who retired following the London Olympics, said: "Sir Chris has been an incredible ambassador for the sport of track cycling, not only nationally but also globally. Chris was a huge inspiration throughout my career, he always had an unquestionable work ethic at training, he is a dedicated and fair sportsman, an ideal role model."

Chris Boardman, who won the individual pursuit in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France on three separate occasions, said: "I think he is the best role model for British cycling, indeed for British sport, in living memory bar none."

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