Hoy powers his way to '£15m' press coverage

Published on Monday 8 September 2008 10:14

OLYMPIC cycling star Chris Hoy has received almost £15 million worth of press coverage since his triumph in Beijing.

The Edinburgh sportsman has been given more column inches in the national press than anyone else in Team GB, according to research by news-monitoring service Newslive.

The research found that since the start of the Games on August 8, and up to August 28, the press coverage mentioning Hoy had an advertising value equivalent to 14.5 million.

He was mentioned 915 times in UK national daily and Sunday papers during that period.

Following in his slipstream are swimmer Rebecca Adlington and cyclist Bradley Wiggins – both double gold winners – and 14-year-old diver Tom Daley, who got more mentions than all but one of Britain's single gold medallists despite not winning a medal himself.

Newslive managing partner Martin Wright said: "Positive coverage is essential for sportsmen and women looking for commercial sponsorship following athletic success."