(FILES) British track cyclist Chris Hoy poses for pictures on August 19, 2008 with the gold medals won during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing. Britain's Olympic heroes added a fresh haul of gongs to their Beijing medals Wednesday December 31, 2008, in the New Year's Honours List, also notably featuring Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton. Track cycling star Chris Hoy, who won three gold medals at the Beijing Games in August, received a knighthood. "It's a huge honour, really unexpected and just an amazing way to end the year," the 32-year-old told the BBC. "A knighthood is a unique thing. You can't compare it to anything else - it's something that money can't buy," he added. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA/FILES (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)