An Evening with Sir Chris Hoy | ABI

Date and Time: February 26, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Location: One Birdcage Walk, 1 Birdcage Walk, London, SW1H 9JJ

Please be aware: The price mentioned does not include VAT.

Sir Chris Hoy: Six-Time Gold Medal Cyclist

Chris Hoy is a remarkable athlete, having earned eleven World Championship titles and secured six gold medals at the Olympics. This impressive record establishes him as one of the top Olympians in Britain, surpassed only by his former teammate, Jason Kenny.

Chris began his journey in competitive BMX when he was just seven years old. He quickly made a name for himself, becoming the Scottish champion and earning a spot as the ninth ranked rider in the world. During his teenage years, he also participated in rowing, where he secured a silver medal in the junior coxless pairs at the British Championships. Eventually, he chose to focus on track cycling, and by the time he turned twenty, he had joined the national team.

Chris achieved his first Olympic gold medal in Athens, where he triumphed in the 1km time trial, an event widely regarded as one of the best ever in this category. During the Beijing Games, he claimed three more gold medals, making him the first British athlete in a century to earn three golds in a single Olympic event, cementing his status as a sporting icon in the UK. In London, he elevated his legacy to legendary status by winning both of his events and delivering some of the most memorable moments of the games. He concluded his competitive journey with an impressive tally of six gold medals and a total of seven Olympic medals.

With his usual modesty, Chris reflects on how lucky he is to have a job he enjoys, while also admitting his relentless drive to succeed. In his talks, he delves into the tough physical and mental challenges that come with competing at an elite level. Sharing his journey from the Athens 2004 Olympics to Beijing 2008, Chris explains how he developed the strength—both physically and emotionally—to cope with being away from his family, and how this experience influenced his performance. Additionally, Chris is skilled at discussing topics like small improvements, motivation, teamwork, and resilience, drawing insights from both sports and the business world.

He reflects on the influential work of renowned psychologist Steve Peters and the culture of self-confidence within Team GB. He shares his personal experiences, detailing both the triumphs and challenges he faced, and explains how the exhilaration of securing victory by a mere fraction of a second momentarily eclipses the pain of pushing oneself to the edge.

Chris is thriving in a new chapter of his sports career in motorsport, where he has had notable success racing in both the British GT and Le Mans Series, participating in the prestigious 24 Hour race. He plays an important role in the BBC’s coverage of cycling events, which includes major competitions like the Olympics, the Tour de France, the Track Cycling World Championships, and the European Championships. In addition, Chris has launched his own line of bicycles, known as HOY bikes, and has authored a collection of children's books. He also serves as an ambassador for Unicef and the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and has received the BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award.