The life and times of Sir Chris Hoy - in pictures

Christopher Andrew Hoy was born in Edinburgh on 23 March 1976. Hoy was inspired to cycle at age six by the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Before track cycling, Hoy raced BMX between the ages of 7 and 14 and was ranked second in Britain, fifth in Europe, and ninth in the world. He received sponsorship from Slazenger and Kwik-Fit, and was competing in Europe and the U.S. Hoy also rowed for the Scottish junior team, coming second in the 1993 British championship with Grant Florence in the coxless pairs Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

1999: The same year as he graduates in Sports Science from Moray House Institute, Edinburgh, Hoy wins his first major medal, a silver in the team sprint at the European Championships before winning silver in the same event at the World Championships in Berlin Photograph: Michael Probst/AP

2000: At the age of 24, Hoy takes silver in Team sprint at the Olympics in Sydney, his first Olympic medal, before repeating the feat at the World Championships in Manchester Photograph: Reuters

July 2002: At the Velodrome in Manchester, Hoy beats Olympic champion Jason Queally to the Kilometre time trial at the Commonwealth Games. He adds to his tally by winning bronze in the Team sprint Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

September 2002: More gold for Hoy as he wins the Kilometre time-trial and Team sprint at the World Championships Photograph: Mladen Antonov/EPA

May 2004: Chris Hoy wins gold in the men's kilometre time trial Photograph: Adam Pretty/Getty Images

August 2004: Hoy wins his first Olympic gold when he triumphs in the kilomentre time trial, setting a new world record with a time of 1:00.711. He is rewarded with an MBE for services to cycling in the New Year's honours list Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

March 2005: Hoy wins gold in the Team sprint and bronze in the kilometre time trial at the World Championships in Los Angeles Photograph: Nick Laham/Getty Images

March 2006: In the Commonwealth games Hoy repeats his world championship triumphs a year earlier, with gold in the Team sprint with Craig Maclean and Ross Edgar, and bronze in the Kilometre time trial Photograph: Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images

April 2006: In Bordeaux, France, Hoy wins gold in the Kilometre time trial and silver in the Team sprint at the World Championships Photograph: Jean-pierre Muller/AFP/Getty Images

April 2007: At the World Championships in in Palma de Mallorca, Hoy takes gold in the Keirin and kilometre time trial as well as silver in the Team sprint Photograph: Bernat Armangue/AP

May 2007: Hoy attempts travels to the Alto Irpavi Velodrome at La Paz in Bolivia in an attempt to break the World 1 Kilometre Altitude Record ... Photograph: Getty Images/Getty Images for Red Bull

Hoy on lap two ... Photograph: Getty Images for Red Bull

Hoy is comforted by his mother Carol after failing by only 0.005 seconds in his attempt to break the world record. Though he did set a record for the 500m flying start at 24.758 seconds
Photograph: Getty Images for Red Bull

March 2008: Hoy wins world championship gold in the Keirin once more as well as taking silver in the Team sprint before defeating Kevin Sireau to become the first British cyclist in 54 years to win the World sprint title Photograph: Photosport Int /Rex Features

August 2008: Wins Olympic gold in Team sprint in Beijing along with Jamie Staff and Jason Kenny before taking individual gold in the men's Keirin Photograph: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

August 2008: Hoy wins his third gold of the games in the men's Sprint, making him the most successful British Olympian at a single games for 100 years Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

December 2008: Hoy is rewarded for his success in Beijing as he is named BBC Sports personality of the year before being awarded a knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours List Photograph: David Davies/PA

December 2008: Kellogg's sign up Hoy to be the face of Bran Flakes in a bid to position the brand as 'Special K for men' Photograph: Public Domain

June 2009: Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy, who was knighted, and mother Carol Hoy, who received an MBE, outside Buckingham Palace after the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace Photograph: WPA Pool/Getty Images

March 2010: Hoy wins his 10th World Championship gold medal with victory in the Keirin in Copenhagen. Elsewhere he is part of Britain's Team sprint team who take bronze Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

April 2010: Sir Chris Hoy and Sarah Kemp marry at St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh Photograph: David Cheskin/Press Association

April 2012: Wins his third Keirin world championship gold medal in Melbourne ... Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Hoy also goes onto claim bronze in the men's sprint losing to compatriot Jason Kenny in the semi-final Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

2 August 2012: Despite a fall early on from team-mate Phillip Hindes, Hoy is part of the men's team sprint team who win gold at London 2012, the fifth of the Scot's career, taking him level with Sir Steve Redgrave Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images

7 August 2012: Behind going into the last corner, Hoy recovers to win the men's keirin. The victory is his second of the games and takes him to six Olympic gold medals, making him Britain's most successful Olympian Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

April 18 2012: Having amassed a total of 36 Olympic, World and Commonwealth medals, Sir Christopher Hoy MBE announces his retirement from cycling at a press conference in Edinburgh Photograph: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images