Chris Hoy: The Autobiography

by Chris Hoy

The first Briton to win three Olympic golds at the same Games, Scotland’s Chris Hoy is a genuine sports superhero. His autobiography charts the life of a seven-year-old BMX fanatic, supported by a devoted dad and his local cycling club, through paralyzing self-doubt and a major career overhaul, to the sport’s Holy Grail. 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 medalist 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 1980s; when, even as a spotty 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.

352 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2010

About the author

Sir Christopher Andrew Hoy is a former track cyclist and racing driver from Scotland who represented Great Britain at the Olympic and World Championships and Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.

On 18 April 2013, Hoy announced his retirement from competitive cycling. He said he was very proud to have taken part in the transformation of the sport.

Abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Aleksandar Jovcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good sport autobiography. There is a lot to learn from it about the mindset and experiences of a professional athlete and the pursuit of greatness.

It is a good length book and not too boring.

The only downside I would say is that there’s so much mention about his family, it’s good to read about an athletes personal relationships but at points it isn’t very relevant and just seems like a diary input.

[Ciarán Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into an extraordinary career!