Golden boy Hoy tipped to receive knighthood

Published on Saturday 20 December 2008 23:55

OLYMPIC champion Chris Hoy's year of achievement could be topped off with the ultimate honour.

After winning three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in August, being elevated to the status of national celebrity and becoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year last week, Hoy is now being tipped for a knighthood from the Queen.

It was reported last night that the 32-year-old Olympian from Edinburgh has been recommended for the knighthood by the sporting advisory committee at Number 10.

According to Whitehall sources, the Scottish cyclist will be included in the Queen's list of New Year honours along with 19-year-old Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, who is set to receive an OBE in recognition of winning two gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Hoy, who won three of his gold medals in Beijing, would become the first knight of cycling in recognition of his achievement.

"Sir Chris" would also be unusual in the sporting world for receiving the honour while at the peak of his career, as most athletes are knighted in retirement.

The athlete, who already has an MBE, is planning to add to his total of four gold medals at the London Olympics in 2012, and earlier this month he announced his intention to delay his retirement until after Glasgow's Commonwealth Games in 2014.

When Hoy was asked about a possible honour in October this year, he said: "Any honours or accolades you get you gratefully receive, obviously, but you certainly don't expect them. And you wait until you're asked."

In August, Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart launched an early day motion for Hoy to be knighted, which gained cross-party support.

But rower Sir Steve Redgrave, who was knighted after retiring from his event, has previously said that Hoy should not be honoured until he leaves cycling.

He said: "If you knight him now and he goes on to get four gold medals next time or another three or only one, what do you do then? How do you recognise that?"

Hoy was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year last week, ahead of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and Adlington, after receiving almost 40% of the public vote.