Cycling-London 2012 target set to keep Briton Hoy in saddle
By Simon Hart
LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Track cyclist Chris Hoy returned from Beijing with his three Olympic gold medals on Monday and said he was already thinking about the London Games in 2012.
Hoy, who became Britain's most successful Olympian at a single Games for 100 years after his victories in the sprint, team sprint and keirin, made it clear he had no plans to quit.
"There is nothing I would like more than to compete at a home Olympics," he told a news conference at Heathrow airport. "It is a huge motivational factor to compete at London.
"I'll have two months off to relax and switch off and spend some time discussing my future with the coaching staff. I am sure I will keep going, I will make an announcement soon in terms of what I will definitely do."
The Scottish-born Hoy will be 36 when the 2012 Games comes round but he does not consider age to be an obstacle to potential future success.
Citing the example of 43-year-old Argentine Juan Esteban Curuchet, who won the Olympic Madison race with Walter Fernando Perez, Hoy said: "Unless you fall off it is not a high-impact sport.
"If you look after yourself and you have good health, no injuries and are motivated, you can continue."
GAMES EXPLOITS
Looking back at his Games exploits, Hoy said: "It is going to take a long time at home and in the peace and quiet for the whole experience to sink in.
"It has been an amazing three or four days since the finish line in my last event. It has just been mad and I think I've had about 10 hours' sleep in that time.
"It is not often we get this kind of attention and I am loving it."
Hoy indicated the desire for a fresh challenge would fire his interest for 2012.
"Whenever I achieve something I think of something different," he said. "I will have some time off but will then think what is going to motivate me, what is going to be the real challenge."
London in 2012 should fit the bill, though Hoy acknowledged he could expect plenty of competition from a highly successful British track cycling team.
"The reason I am performing so well is the constant pressure from below in terms of the youngsters coming though -- the standard is so high in the Olympic team," he said. "The sky is the limit really."
(Editing by Trevor Huggins)
