Out of this world: Sir Chris given first bike after being inspired by ET

SIR Chris Hoy was first inspired to get on a bike by watching classic movie ET.

The celebrated Olympic gold medallist took up BMX riding when he was six after being amazed by the stunts in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film.

The Scottish cyclist, who moves into the record books today after topping Sir Steve Redgrave’s record with six gold medals, previously said that he had felt better and better with each success.

After winning the team sprint last week, he said: “I thought my first win in Athens was the most memorable for me, but this by far is my greatest win. It’s an incredible feeling.”

But he added: “I still don’t think anyone can better Steve’s record in terms of what he’s achieved.

“It’s not just the number, it’s the way he did it, in five consecutive Games.

“It’s been the hardest couple of years of my career the last two years, trying to keep going and to work harder than I ever have before.

“The older you get, you’ve got to work so much harder to keep that level.

“To think he did that in five consecutive Games, it’s incredible.”

Sir Chris’s team mate Jason Kenny has described him as having a “killer instinct to finish off a race when it matters”.

He added: “If you look back in history, when it comes down to that really important ride, Chris nine times out of 10 smokes it.”

Sir Chris, who also became Britain’s most successful Olympian at a single games for 100 years by winning three golds in Beijing in 2008, did not take up track racing until he was 18.

Born in Edinburgh in 1976 and raised in the city, his parents Carol and David bought him his first bike after he saw the movie and he raced BMX until he was 14-years-old, becoming Scottish Champion and ranking second in Britain and ninth in the world.

He was also a rugby player and rower in his youth and finished second in the coxless pairs at the British national rowing championships in 1993.

As a senior, he turned his attention to track sprint cycling and in 1992 he joined his first cycling club in Dunedin.

Two years later he joined the City of Edinburgh Racing Club, and since 1996 he has been a member of the Great Britain national squad.

He has since become a figurehead of British sport and carried the Union Jack flag for Team GB in the opening ceremony of

To read the whole story, visit here: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cycling/sir-chris-hoys-1233228

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