London 2012 Olympics: Sir Chris’s tears were the defining moment, reckons Rogge

By CRAIG BROWN
Published on 13/08/2012 00:47

The tears of joy shed by Sir Chris Hoy on the podium represented the defining moment of London 2012, according to International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

Speaking as the Games concluded yesterday, he also acknowledged Jamaican sprinting king Usain Bolt as a “living
legend” after his treble gold success, replicating his triumph in Beijing four years ago.

“There are so many things, I have not one favourite moment,” Mr Rogge said.

“If I would have to take one, not emotion, but a sentimental one, that would be the tears of Chris Hoy. I think that’s one of the defining moments of the Games.”

Sir Chris wept after clinching his sixth Olympic cycling gold medal, in the keirin event last Tuesday, ensuring Britain matched their Beijing record of seven track titles.

Mr Rogge said many athletes had made Olympic history in London, including American swimmer Michael Phelps, who became the most decorated Olympian, and Ben Ainslie, who became the most successful Games sailor. He also picked out Andy Murray for winning his first major tennis title.

Olympics ambassador David Beckham said watching Jessica Ennis win gold in the heptathlon was his most special moment, also rating the moment Sir Chris won his second medal of the Games to become the Briton with the most golds ever.

Beckham said: “Watching Jess win her gold was very special. Obviously I’m friends with Jess, and I think what she did on that night was, you know, you could see it in her face. But you can see it in every one of the athletes’ faces. Every time they win a medal, every time they do well in an event, you can see the excitement, you can see how proud they are.”

For Scottish swimmer Michael Jamieson, who won a silver in the 200m breaststroke, a defining moment was fellow Team GB swimmer Rebecca Adlington’s medal ceremony after her 800m final. “The crowd starting chanting her name – the noise was unbelievable,” he said. “It was a very emotional and heartfelt moment as we saw Becky begin to cry and you just knew the whole nation was behind her. The impact of the support we’ve had is indescribable.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson included Christine Ohuruogu’s “gutsy” attempt to defend her 400m title and Laura Trott’s double gold in the velodrome in his top moments.

London organising committee (Locog) chairman Seb Coe described Mo Farah as “probably the greatest runner we have produced in this country”, after he won the 5,000m to go with his earlier victory in the 10,000m.

“I thought Mo Farah’s race last night was superb,” Lord Coe said yesterday.

The British public’s support and enthusiasm during the Games had been the best aspect of London 2012 for him, he said.

“The British people, day after day, have filled our stadiums and turned them into theatres of sport,” he said.

“I think for me that has been, in a way, the defining part of this two-week experience.”