Hoy turns the walk of fame into a cycle path

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 22:06

OLYMPIC hero Sir Chris Hoy is set to follow in the footsteps of Ian Rankin and JK Rowling by being honoured in a new "walk of fame" in the capital.

The Edinburgh-born cyclist is expected to become the third recipient of the Edinburgh Award at a gala ceremony on 30 June. His handprints will then be immortalised on a slab outside the City Chambers, where Rankin and Rowling have both already been honoured.

The award, launched three years ago, recognises "outstanding individuals" who have gained national or international recognition for the city.

Hoy, who scooped three golds last summer, was honoured in the wake of his Beijing success, along with the other Scots Olympic heroes, with an open-top bus tour through Edinburgh, which brought thousands of well-wishers on to the streets.

Within months he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year and his Olympic year was crowned with a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.

A spokeswoman for the city council said: "We are due to make an announcement about this year's Edinburgh Award in the next couple of weeks."

A source close to the council said: "Chris Hoy is by far the most obvious recipient of the award. It's hard to imagine how anyone could have done more for Edinburgh in the past year that him. We're sure it will be another major honour to add to his collection."

The 2008 award ceremony had to be delayed until September of last year to ensure Rowling was able to accept it in person. She agreed to be pictured having her handprints copied at a stonemason's to help publicise the launch of this year's award.