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Track cyclist Hoy wins top British award

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  • British track cyclist Chris Hoy is named BBC Sport Personality of the Year
  • Hoy became the first Briton to win three golds at a single Olympics in Beijing
  • F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was second with Rebecca Adlington third
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(CNN) -- Track cyclist Chris Hoy has won British sport's top award after being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Liverpool on Sunday.

Hoy has added the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award to the three gold medals he won in Beijing.

The triple Olympic gold medallist fought off competition Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, who finished second, and third-placed swimmer Rebecca Adlington to scoop the prize.

The 32-year-old becomes the first cyclist to win the honor since Tommy Simpson in 1965.

Hoy, from Edinburgh, became the first British athlete to win three golds at a single Olympics in Beijing the summer.

"To win this award this year is so special as British sport has enjoyed such a hugely successful year. It's been incredible," said Hoy -- who triumphed in the team sprint, along with Jamie Staff and Jason Kenny, and won the keirin and the individual sprint at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing.

"I really didn't expect this," added Hoy, who received a standing ovation after he came to the stage to collect his award from Sir Steven Redgrave and American athletics legend Michael Johnson.

"After the year I've had and the whole team has had, to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year, it just means so much. This is the big one and this is just unbelievable."

It was a successful night for the British cycling team as they won the team award while David Brailsford won the Coach of the Year crown.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was named Overseas Personality of the Year while England World Cup-winner Sir Bobby Charlton won the Lifetime Achievement award.

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