Chris Hoy: the Autobiography

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As the first Briton to win three Olympic golds at the same Games, Scotland's Chris Hoy has become a beacon for British sporting achievement. His autobiography charts his life from seven-year-old BMX fanatic, supported by a devoted dad and his local cycling club, through paralysing self-doubt and a major career overhaul, to the sport's holy grail. Chris Hoy is a genuine sporting superhero -- and he's British. This 32-year-old cycling fanatic from Musselburgh in the suburbs of Edinburgh defied the doubters who thought he would struggle when his specialist discipline, the 1km time trial, was dropped from the Olympics, and went on to reinvent himself as a track cycling sprinter and triple Olympic gold medallist in Beijing. His return to these shores sparked unprecedented celebrations and real admiration that here was a role model who was the epitome of all things that are good in sport. What makes a champion in sport? In his autobiography, Hoy returns to his roots as a child fully engaged with the BMX craze of the Eighties; when, even as a seven year old his will to succeed allied to an unyielding mental strength set him apart from other youngsters of his age. A promising rower and rugby player in school, it was when he joined his first local cycling club and spent most weekends of the year competing in national events from Blackpool to Bristol that the seeds of his future career were sown.

Chris Hoy was born in Edinburgh in March 1976. He represented Scotland at junior level for BMX and rowing, and joined his first cycling club, Dunedin CC, in 1992. He began focusing on track racing and joined the City of Edinburgh Racing Club a couple of years later. Chris has been a member of the British track cycling squad since 1996. He has a degree in applied sports science from the University of Edinburgh. He has four Olympic gold medals to his name, nine World Championships, and two Commonwealth Games golds.

Praise for Chris Hoy: 'It's hard to think of a more deserving recipient of success than Chris Hoy' Guardian 'Who is my sporting hero?' It's Chris Hoy.' He's an inspiration...a real role model' Team-mate Victoria Pendleton 'To appreciate Hoy, you need to understand his exercise of self-control, plus those nagging doubts, for it is this potent combination that has driven him to such heights' The Times