Sir Chris Hoy had splinter in his bum for over 30 years before scratching it out
Sir Chris Hoy had a splinter from a cycle track stuck in his bum for more than 30 years.
The stunned cycling legend, 47, said he found the stubborn piece of wood in his buttock earlier this year after a red spot appeared. The six-time Olympic gold medallist reckoned it had been there since a crash during a race sent him sliding across the track in Edinburgh in 1992.
He added: “I have had splinters and I found one in my bum cheek about six months ago. I had this red spot on my bum cheek and I was scratching it and then I felt it go ‘pop’. I looked down and there was a little piece of black wood.
“I reckon it has been there since 1992. I crashed at Meadowbank and I had a few splinters in my hip.
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“So that’s 31 years ago and this bit of wood eventually found its way out. I should have kept it but I don’t think my wife would have been very happy.”
A decade has passed since the 47-year-old announced his retirement from competitive riding, reducing the risk of injuries (both standard and otherwise). The Scot once came off his bike in front of a bus at the athletes' village during the 2004 Athens Olympics, though he later went on to win gold in the one-kilometre time trial.
Heard of a stranger sports injury than Chris Hoy's 30-year-old splinter? Let us know in the comments section below.
Speaking on his Sporting Misadventures podcast, Hoy added: “These are really rare things but you do get these freak ones.” Edinburgh-born Hoy claimed six Olympic gold medals in total – including two at London 2012 – before retiring in 2013.
The most significant injury of Hoy's career came during the World Cup Classics series' final in 2009, which was held in Copenhagen. A crash in the men's Keirin final resulted in the 'degloving' injury to his hip, which ended his season prematurely and sidelined him for almost three months.
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He had to miss out on the 2009 World Championships as a result and didn't have a chance to defend his two golds at the time. Still, it didn't dent Hoy's legacy in the sport that much as he made way as one of Britain's most successful cyclists of all time.
Bum splinters are one hazard of the job the Olympian certainly won't miss about his former occupation. Not that his buns of steel aren't up to the task (clearly).
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