London 2012: GOLD FOR BRITAIN! Sir Chris Hoy eclipses Sir Steve Redgrave with sixth triumph

Tuesday, August 7, 2012
6:21 PM

Olympics cycling: Sir Chris Hoy triumphs in keiren

Sir Chris Hoy tonight became the most successful Briton in Olympic history with six gold medals after winning the keirin, his final Olympic event, at the London 2012 velodrome.

After watching Laura Trott become a double Olympic champion with victory in the omnium and the retiring Victoria Pendleton denied a golden goodbye and a third Olympic gold as a result of a 2-0 sprint final loss to perennial rival Anna Meares of Australia, Hoy triumphed.

The 36-year-old took his Olympic gold medal-winning tally to five - level with Sir Steve Redgrave - on Thursday with victory in the team sprint and won the keirin in trademark fashion to send a partisan crowd into raptures.

Germany’s Maximilian Levy was second, while two bronze medals were awarded as Simon van Velthooven of New Zealand and Teun Mulder of Holland could not be separated by officials scrutinising the photo finish.

Hoy was third behind the motorised Derny at the and appeared boxed in as Awang Azizulhasni made his move just before the pace-setting bike left the track.

The Scot swiftly found a gap and eased to the front of the six-man final group before turning on the power in the final lap and into the final bend to triumph on the Olympic stage once more and successfully defend the title he won in 2008.

Hoy won one-kilometre time-trial gold in Athens eight years ago and triple Olympic gold four years later and was received by all members of the British coaching staff as he said goodbye to the Olympic stage for a final time.