Wha's like us... Chris Hoy

Published on Saturday 16 August 2008 19:51

The title of Scotland's greatest ever Olympian is no longer in dispute. With his gold medal in yesterday's keirin event, cyclist Chris Hoy became the first Scot to win three Olympic titles. Hoy may well add a fourth gold in the individual sprint on Tuesday.

A dedicated trainer with a degree in sports science, Hoy is not only a competitor nonpareil but a fine human being. At 32, he is probably finished with the Olympics, but such is his fitness he could carry on accumulating titles for some years to come.

Hoy dreamed of the Olympics from his days as teenager in the City of Edinburgh Cycling Club. Now he has lived the dream and has done so without the egotism and money-obsessed pettiness that besmirch the reputations of so many professional sportspeople. Laudably, Hoy has also spoken out against the abuse of drugs by athletes.

All Scotland, and all Britain, should rejoice at his success. The scale of his achievement against the odds is sufficient to merit one more reward. Come the New Year, he should hear the words: "Arise, Sir Chris!"