The secret of Hoy's golden success is his wife Sarra

Thursday 9 August 2012

Sir Chris Hoy has paid tribute to his wife as the emotional support behind his charge to become Britain's most decorated Olympic champion.

THAT'S MY HOY: Sarra Hoy congratulates her husband after his gold medal-winning race in the London velodrome. Picture:Getty Images

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The Scot spoke as he enjoyed a relative moment of calm after winning his sixth gold medal at the London Velodrome on Tuesday, to beat rower Sir Steve Redgrave's record.

Edinburgh-born Hoy, 36, who married long-term girlfriend Sarra Kemp in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, in 2010, said the best thing about his win was seeing her at the end of the race.

The star fell into her arms after winning the keirin and team sprint to add to the three golds he won in Beijing in 2008 and one from Athens in 2004."Sarra has been the one that has really got me through it all," said Hoy, whose epic performance was watched by more than 10 million UK television viewers."It is fantastic when you step off the track and the final product is a gold medal. It looks like it has never been in doubt, which was not the case with the keirin. To see the performances, you think it must always be good but it is anything but."There were troughs and dips in the past four years and she has been there the whole way – never complained and never moaned or become frustrated with cycling because that has been put first over everything."When I saw her at the end, and was able to give her a big hug and a kiss, I realised we have done it and gone through it."Hoy, who hopes his swansong will be at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, said he is looking forward to a bit of normality.After years of cycling dominating their lives, he said: "It was not that it was a struggle or not an enjoyable process but now we can live a normal life for a few months and do things other than eating, training and nothing else."He said he had also managed to see the footage of his mum, Carol, almost being unable to watch him win the keirin at the Olympic velodrome.He said: "I am sure my mum was having a tough time. The keirin is a dangerous event and she is always saying 'don't hurt yourself son, be safe and if you win that is brilliant'."It is because she knows how much it means to me that she wants me to win and is keeping her fingers crossed. It is one of the things that has helped me with my career that I have this amazing support at home. "No matter what I do they, my family, are there to commiserate or celebrate."Hoy said he would like to stay in touch with the sport and hinted at a coaching role after he stops competing. He added: "I would love to still be involved with the team once I have retired."Cycling has been part of my life since I was seven years old. It would be hard to walk away."Meanwhile, sportscotland, the national agency for promoting sport, said Scots had punched above their weight with a record seven gold medals equalling the tally for the Stockholm games 100 years ago. In addition, athletes from north of the Border have taken three silvers and a bronze.Mike Whittingham, director of high performance at the sportscotland institute of sport, said: "The performance of our athletes at the London Olympics has been truly phenomenal. It is clear Scottish athletes have punched above their weight at London 2012."Hoy, Andy Murray (tennis), Tim Baillie (slalom canoeing), Heather Stanning and Katherine Grainger (rowing) and Scott Brash (showjumping) have all won gold medals. Silvers went to Murray, Michael Jamieson (swimming) and David Florence (slalom canoeing), while Daniel Purvis (gymnastics) got bronze.Scotland's tally will climb further, with Luke Patience guaranteed a medal in sailing's 470 class and hopes also for athlete Lee McConnell and hockey players Laura Bartlett and Emily Maguire.

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The secret of Hoy's golden success is his wife Sarra

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