• Cycling

Hoy fears he may not make it to Commonwealths

ESPN staff
November 15, 2012
Sir Chris Hoy won his sixth Olympic gold medal at London 2012 © PA Photos
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Sir Chris Hoy has categorically ruled out competing at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and has set his sights on a swansong at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Hoy became the most decorated British Olympian at London 2012 when he won his sixth gold medal in the keirin.

While he admitted at the time he was "99.9% sure" he would not be in Brazil, Hoy has now confirmed his body would not hold out for another four years.

"I'm definitely not going to Rio," Hoy told the Daily Mail. "It is 100 per cent ruled out. Nothing will top London. And four years is too much to ask. We're not talking about a sport like equestrianism where you can go on to an older age.

"I think the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would be a nice way to end it. That's only two years away and I have never competed seriously in Scotland. If it was anywhere else in the world I wouldn't even think about it. I am not expecting to be there but if I can be there, it would be great."

However, at 36, Hoy admits it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain his current level of performance and fears he may not make it to Glasgow.

"You don't know how your body is going to shape up," he said. "It's whether you can maintain the performance - or improve it - without getting injured. That's the battle every athlete faces and the older you get the harder it becomes.

"You are always pushing, pushing, pushing but it is when you do that that your body can break down. In terms of doing any competition, I'll leave it until at least next summer before making a call."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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