Callum set to emerge from Hoy’s shadow

CALLUM SKINNER spent most of his time at London 2012 sitting next to former Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore in the velodrome advising him on the technicalities of sprint cycling.

On the track Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and their like were scooping up gold medals.

Skinner was just 19, in the “B” team of British Cycling and dreaming of Rio. Now the Glaswegian is aiming for gold himself.

Skinner has been “the next Chris Hoy” since he was 16 and won the inaugural Chris Hoy Trophy, which was presented by the six-time gold medallist.

“They’re big shoes to fill but I don’t believe there’s any extra pressure on me because of it,” says Callum.

“He was the reason I got into cycling. I remember seeing a picture of him holding a Saltire above his head after he won gold in Athens and I was hooked.

“I associated him with a sport Scotland was good at so it encouraged me to give it a go.

“I moved to Edinburgh and his dad was the commentator at the Meadowbank track.

“His voice is still ingrained in me as part of the atmosphere of the place that played a big part in my early days as a cyclist.

“It’s where Chris began too, and I lived not far from where he grew up so the comparisons were being made before I’d even won anything.

“London definitely gave me a drive to get to Rio. There was something really special about those games.

“I was drafted in as a sort of personal escort and info source to the Scottish Secretary.

“The roar of crowd was electrifying and the hair stood up on the back of your neck.

“It gave me a taste and I knew Rio might be achievable even though I’d still only be 23 and sprinters develop quite late – Chris didn’t win first Olympic gold till he was 28.

“I’ve been slowly chipping away at my times and by Rio I should be in the best place possible to win a medal. It’s definitely a target.”