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Sir Chris Hoy Helps Team GB to Record Best Games Since 1908
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August 8, 2012 The Fresh Outlook  |
Track cyclists leave emotional and long-lasting legacy in the £93m velodrome after Team GB surpass Beijing medal total in style.
On Tuesday, Sir Chris Hoy won his sixth gold medal in the men’s keirin, on a day which saw 20-year-old Laura Trott win her second gold of the games. Those who watched the medal ceremonies saw how much this achievement meant to Hoy, who could not control his emotions in front of a packed GB crowd.
For Hoy, this was his last ever competitive race – Olympics or otherwise – and he sealed his final win in incredible fashion, taking the inside sprint line and finding an extra burst of pace to fend off German cyclist Maximilian Levy.
In the women’s sprint, Victoria Pendleton signed off with a silver medal after being beaten by her long-term rival Anna Meares. For Pendleton this may have been a slight disappointment, but for the GB supporters this was the icing on the cake of what has been a brilliant career.
Great Britain have now won seven out of a possible 10 medals in the velodrome. Dave Brailsford and his team have undoubtedly created a legacy which will see the GB cycling team continue to dominate in future tournaments.
With two gold medals from athletes who share an age difference of 16 years, this has surely put to bed the debate over which team was the most consistent and best overall on the track at the Olympic games – if there ever was one.
By Stephen Jennings
[Image courtesy of Richard Parmiter]
