Hoy's triumph watched by 8 million (From Basildon Recorder)

Hoy's triumph watched by 8 million

12:10pm Friday 3rd August 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

More than eight million people watched Sir Chris Hoy equal Sir Steve Redgrave's haul of five golds in a world record-beating performance at the velodrome.

The cycling trio claimed gold on Thursday night in front of a BBC1 peak audience of 8.1 million.

Even more people tuned in to see the most decorated Olympian of all - US swimmer Michael Phelps - win another gold in the 200m individual medley, which was watched by a peak audience of 9.6 million.

Around 3.7 million people tuned in to BBC1 to see Peter Wilson win gold in the shooting, while a peak of 4.7 million watched Gemma Gibbons win silver in the judo final.

The Games have been a ratings winner for the corporation, pulling in huge audiences.

More than 10 million people watched Rebecca Adlington's bronze medal-winning performance for Team GB earlier in the week, while 7.6 million tuned in to see Lizzie Armitstead's rain-sodden finish on The Mall as she became the first British athlete to make the medals table for London 2012.

The opening ceremony drew a massive 26.9 million viewers at its peak.