THE remarkable achievements of Chris Hoy in Beijing by some way qualify him for the title of Scotland's greatest ever Olympian.
He will return to Scotland a hero and it is to be expected that Edinburgh will once again roll out the red carpet in his honour. But as the clamour grows for him to receive a knighthood in recognition of his gold medal performances, history suggests
that it is unlikely even to be considered until he retires.
Britain has not been slow in the past to recognise its sporting heroes who have attained Olympic and world success. But recognising where the bar is set has always been a matter for some debate. While OBEs and MBEs are handed out twice a year, knights and dames are few and far between and reserved for exceptional performances and longevity.
Britain's most successful Olympian of all time, Sir Stephen Redgrave, won gold at five consecutive Olympics between 1984 and 2000, the only competitor from these shores to do so. On top of this he won nine World Championship golds but it was only after he quit rowing in 2000 that he was knighted. His long-term partner Mathew Pinsent who won four Olympic golds and ten World Champion golds was similarly honoured but only after he retired following another triumph in Athens in 2004.
Mary Peters who won a rare gold for Britain in the pentathlon in Munich in 1972 was immediately awarded an MBE but had to wait a further 28 years until 2000 to be made a dame for her ongoing work with the development of young athletes. Reward was swifter for Kelly Holmes following her double gold in the 800m and 1500m in Athens who received the same honour when she hung up her spikes.
Post Beijing there will be a number of other candidates, like sailor Ben Ainslie who has now won three golds in three successive Olympics, up for honours alongside Hoy's cycling teammate Bradley Wiggins.
Hoy most certainly has the pedigree to rank alongside Redgrave, Pinsent and Holmes but has already stated that he may wish – even at the age of 36 – to take part in the Games when London plays host in 2012. Although there are no hard and fast rules, convention tends to suggest that while he continues to compete a knighthood may not be in the offing just now, but the very least he should expect is a CBE to add to the MBE he already holds.
But further success in London should not be a required for him to earn a further upgrade. He has already done more than enough to merit the top honour.
The full article contains 454 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
