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On This Day: Chris Hoy wins fifth Olympic gold medal

On This Day: Chris Hoy wins fifth Olympic gold medal
© Reuters
Sir Chris Hoy triumphed in the team sprint alongside Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny at the London Games.

Sir Chris Hoy won a fifth Olympic gold medal on this day in 2012 after Great Britain's men triumphed in the team sprint on a night of high drama at the Velodrome.

Hoy, Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny progressed to the final of the three-man, three-lap sprint in a world record of 42.747 seconds and clocked another world record in a stunning finale, finishing in 42.600secs.

In a repeat of the final four years previously in Beijing, France's Gregory Bauge, Michael D'Almeida and Kevin Sireau had to settle for silver, finishing in 43.013.

Hoy, right, Jason Kenny, left, and Philip Hindes proudly display their team sprint gold medals
Hoy, right, Jason Kenny, left, and Philip Hindes proudly display their team sprint gold medals (Adam Davy/PA)

Bronze went to Germany (43.209), with world champions Australia (43.355) fourth.

British women Victoria Pendleton and Jess Varnish had earlier been relegated from the team sprint for a takeover infringement and Britain's men's team pursuit quartet had also set a world record.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry arrived after Pendleton and Varnish were eliminated from the competition, but were part of the capacity velodrome as an expectant crowd, including Prime Minister David Cameron, witnessed Hoy's historic achievement.

The 36-year-old from Edinburgh, competing in his fourth Games, had won one-kilometre time-trial gold in Athens in 2004 and three titles at Beijing 2008.

Hoy, front right, won his sixth Olympic gold after a thrilling finish in the men's keirin at London 2012
Hoy, front right, won his sixth Olympic gold after a thrilling finish in the men's keirin at London 2012 (John Giles/PA)

His Velodrome triumph in London brought him level with Sir Steve Redgrave as the Briton with most Olympic golds.

Five days later, Hoy became the most successful Briton in Olympic history with his sixth gold medal after winning the keirin in trademark fashion to send a partisan crowd into raptures.

Hoy, who also claimed 11 world titles, announced his retirement from cycling in April, 2013.

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