By Andrew Fraser
BBC Sport in Athens
Jason Queally insisted he could not have picked a better man to inherit his Olympic
1km title after his British team-mate Chris Hoy claimed gold in dramatic fashion in the
Hoy turned in a superb ride to become the first Briton at the Games to get a gold medal
around his neck, just as Queally had done in Sydney four years ago.
And Queally said confidence was now so high that the GB track cycling team could come
away with five gold medals.
They have the chance to win another two on Saturday when Hoy, Queally and Craig
MacLean go in the team sprint, and Bradley Wiggins faces Australia's Brad McGee in
the 4,000m pursuit gold medal race-off.
"It's looking good. Fingers crossed, we can do what Chris did," Queally told the BBC
"We've all been going particularly well and to see that was a massive confidence boost
for the whole team.
"We will feed off that and hopefully come back with another two golds. With the team
pursuit it could be four, and look out for the Madison - maybe five!"
Queally admitted he had been close to tears as Hoy crossed the line in a new Olympic
record time to edge out Frenchman Arnaud Tournant in a dramatic four-lap finale.
"It is incredible. What a competition - the Olympic record was broken four times," said
"Tournant did an awesome ride and I thought 'Chris is going to have to go some to get
it'. But I honestly believed he could.
"I couldn't watch at times. My head was in my hands. I was looking up, and looking
"But to start off with 1km gold, you couldn't ask for more."
Queally was denied the chance to defend his title because Hoy and MacLean, who
finished seventh, were chosen ahead of him.
And he revealed Hoy had actually decided to switch his specialist event to the
kilometre after Queally's victory in Sydney.
"It was four years ago at the Olympics when our coach at the time took him aside and
asked him what he wanted to do," explained Queally.
"He said he wanted to do the 1km. Four years on he's the Olympic champion.
"I'm elated for him. I couldn't have beaten that anyway. He was awesome and the best
"Four years down the line cycling has done it again.
"Unfortunately Britain didn't win a gold medal in the first few days, but we've got this
"Last time it seemed to act as a catalyst for the whole team. I hope it will this time too."