List of cycling gold medalists at Beijing Olympics

    BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister, Tuesday witnessed British cyclists setting a historic record for his nation at the Laoshan Velodrome, by pocketing the last two golds in cycling track at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (4th L) watches the cycling-track event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008.(Xinhua/Zhang Duo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Chris Hoy, a cycling talent, finished his hat trick at the Beijing Olympics, bagging his third personal gold and the seventh for Britain here Tuesday, beating his teammate Jason Kenny 2-0 in the final of men's sprint.

    The 32-year-old cyclist became the first Briton in 100 years to win three golds at the same Olympics, after clinching men's keirin gold and led the British team to win men's team sprint title.

Chris Hoy (rear) of Great Britain competes in the Men's Sprint Finals of the cycling-track event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Chris Hoy won the gold medal.(Xinhua Photo)Photo Gallery>>>

    "A year ago, I couldn't have believed it. It's such an achievement," said Hoy who claimed himself to be a wreck as he let his emotion come out at the end. "It could be the hardest race in my life probably."

    Twenty minutes earlier, his compatriot Victoria Pentelon took the gold of the women's sprint, beating Anna Meares from Australia 2-0 in the final.

Victoria Pendleton (front) of Great Britain competes in the Women's Sprint Finals of the cycling-track event during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. Victoria Pendleton of Great Britain won the gold medal. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Since finishing ninth in the event at the Athens Games, the 28-year-old cyclist has won world championship titles in 2005, 2007 and 2008, and finished runner-up in 2006.

    In the event, China's hopeful Guo Shuang failed to make a breakthrough for China due to a crash and a relegation in the semi-final against Meares.

    Falling off her bike in the deciding race in the semi-final, Guo bravely stood up to compete. She almost saw the chance to enter the final after beating the Australian, but the Chinese illegally maneuvered Meares out of the way and was thus relegated into the bronze medal contest.

    In the bronze medal race, She beat Willy Kanis from the Netherlands 2-0 to stand on the medals podium, living up to her expectation to win the first cycling medal for the host at the Games.

    Britain's gold haul at the Laoshan Velodrome, however, was stopped by two Argentines, who clinched the gold in the men's madison race.

    Juan Esteban Curuchet and Walter Fernando Perez burst into ecstatic tears after winning the first cycling gold for Argentina in the exhausting 50-kilometer race and held their national flag along the track, where they achieved the most glamorous glory in their career.

    "I've been in the Olympics since 1984, and this is the best moment of my life," said 43-year-old Curuchet in emotion. "After 20 minutes in the race, I was sick. I was extremely tired."

    While his partner Perez dedicated the gold medal to his mother who died last year.

    "It's unbelievable. It's a dream come true," said Perez. "I want to thank my wife and children. This gold medal is a gift for them."

    Pre-games favorites Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins didn't continue the gold rush trend of Britain in cycling track, finishing the race at an awkward No.9 place among total 16 teams.

    After all the races at the Laoshan Velodrome finished Tuesday, the British cyclists who bagged seven golds out of ten, three silvers and three bronzes, vastly helped their nation to be seated at the third place on overall medal tally with 15 golds.

    On the success, Hoy said it had been coming over the years.

    "We come here and the whole team has performed at its very best," he exclaimed. "It's been perfect."