Glasgow 2014: Chris Hoy has no retirement regrets

Sir Chris Hoy celebrates winning gold at London 2012. Picture: PA

Hoy, who has won six Olympic gold medals, made the tough decision to retire after his double success in London last year.

But the Edinburgh-born star admitted the idea of ending his long run of success on a home track had been sorely tempting.

Hoy said: “A lot of time you look forward to the Games and think it would be amazing to be a part of it all – to be competing and getting that home support again. But you can only do so much and eventually your body waves a white flag and says that’s it. To manage to continue to the age of 36 in London was a big old challenge, and to go on for two more years it appeared it was never going to be possible. I’m going to enjoy it as a spectator.”

Hoy, who will be involved in Glasgow in an ambassadorial role, expects more London 2012 stars to commit to the Games – including the likes of his former track team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins, with whom Hoy shares Great Britain’s all-time Olympic medal record of seven. Wiggins, is among those yet to commit to competing in Glasgow.

Hoy added: “I don’t foresee any issues of motivation for the athletes who have been part of Great Britain team for London, because it is an entirely separate event and it’s a whole different environment.”