Chris Hoy named BBC Sports Personality

Posted: Sunday 14th December 2008 | 22:16

JUST like the Olympics, it was the sport of cycling that dominated the BBC Sports Personality Awards - and Chris Hoy was again the biggest star.

But Hoy, a triple gold medallist in Beijing, faced tougher opposition to be named BBC Sports Personality of Year than he ever did in China (he also won our online poll with 29% of the vote).

Despite his historic achievements, bookmakers only made him third favourite behind new Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton and double Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington.

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But Hoy timed his run to perfection - just as he did at the Laoshan Velodrome. Public support swung behind him when it mattered and he became the first cyclist to win the prestigious award since Tommy Simpson in 1965.

And his winning margin was familiar too. Hoy won in convincing fashion with 283,630 votes to second placed Hamilton's 163,864 and Adlington's 145,924.

Meanwhile, British Cycling performance director David Brailsford was named Coach of the Year while the entire British cycling squad - which won 14 Olympic medals, including eight golds, were named Team of the Year.

"I wasn't expecting this, it's such a shock," said Hoy.

"After the year I've had this means so much, its the ultimate award, the one everyone sportsman or woman wants to win. Looking at the names on this trophy is quite incredible and it will take a while to sink in.

"I wouldn't be standing here without the team I have behind me at British Cycling.

"For cycling to have won three awards tonight just shows what an amazing year we have had.

"To win this year in particular means so much because British sport has enjoyed its best year in my lifetime with so many successful athletes in so many sports.

"It's been the culmination of 12 years hard work and I want to thank a few of those who have helped. My family have been behind me the whole way and allowed me to have the life that this is possible."

Hoy will be 36 when the 2012 Olympics are staged in London and has already claimed he may continue to a home Commonwealth Games, when Glasgow host the event in 2014.

But he hinted he may have quit after Beijing had those events not been on the horizon.

He added: “If the next Games had been somewhere else, maybe it would have been a tougher choice to make. But with them being in London there was no question about it.

“To have the British crowd there supporting you, to have the potential to maybe win another gold medal or two or three in the UK — you don't get bigger motivation than that.

"When the World Cup was in Manchester i helped out with some commentary nut I felt edgy not being part of the team, not being in the infield and not racing. To me that was a good sign that I wasn't ready to retire, I wasn't ready to hang up my wheels yet. I've got more ambition and more drive. I'm still motivated.”

Jamaican Olympic sprint star Usain Bolt was named Overseas Sports Personality of the Year, while teenage Paralympian Eleanor Simmonds, 13, took the Young Sports Personality category. England football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, 71, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.