London 2012 target set to keep Briton Hoy in saddle

By Simon Hart

LONDON (Reuters) - Track cyclist Chris Hoy returned from Beijing with his three Olympic gold medals on Monday and said he was already thinking about the London Games in 2012.

Hoy, who became Britain's most successful Olympian at a single Games for 100 years after his victories in the sprint, team sprint and keirin, made it clear he had no plans to quit.

"There is nothing I would like more than to compete at a home Olympics," he told a news conference at Heathrow airport. "It is a huge motivational factor to compete at London.

"I'll have two months off to relax and switch off and spend some time discussing my future with the coaching staff. I am sure I will keep going, I will make an announcement soon in terms of what I will definitely do."

The Scottish-born Hoy will be 36 when the 2012 Games comes round but he does not consider age to be an obstacle to potential future success.

Citing the example of 43-year-old Argentine Juan Esteban Curuchet, who won the Olympic Madison race with Walter Fernando Perez, Hoy said: "Unless you fall off it is not a high-impact sport.

"If you look after yourself and you have good health, no injuries and are motivated, you can continue."

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