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Hoy gunning for Redgrave record

4/ 9/2008

SALFORD-based Chris Hoy will attempt to match and even better Sir Steve Redgrave’s record of five Olympic gold medals at the London Games in 2012.

The 32-year-old is just one gold medal behind Redgrave’s British record following his three-gold heroics in Beijing last month.

And Hoy, who was born in Scotland but lives in Salford Quays, is determined to make the most of the once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in an Olympic Games on British soil.

Shelving fears of an impending retirement, Hoy said: "I am sure I will keep going. It is a huge motivational factor to compete in London."

Hoy made a homecoming appearance at the first ever Salford Nocturne cycling event at the weekend.

He received a reception befitting the living legend that he is and he is likely to make his first competitive outing at Manchester’s World Cup event from Friday, October 31, to Sunday, November 2.

Hoy, who is widely regarded to be one of the favourites for the 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, said: "Hopefully, my success will inspire young kids to take up cycling.

"Normally the sport doesn’t attract much interest. But the Velodrome is what started it all.

"It’s meant that in 14 years we (Great Britain) have gone from a Z nation to number one in the world."