Olympic cycling hero Chris Hoy insists the champagne is still on ice despite reaching the final shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Hoy became Scotland’s most successful ever Olympian after claiming three gold medals in Beijing in August and is among the bookies’ favourites to succeed Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe as the 2009 winner.

There have also been calls from GB team-mate Bradley Wiggins for the 32-year-old Scot to be knighted but Hoy is adamant his feet will remain firmly on the ground.

“If accolades such as that come your way then obviously you welcome them with open arms,” said Hoy, who is joined on the shortlist by fellow Scot Andy Murray.

“Any kind of recognition is a fantastic honour and who would not want to receive something like that.

“But for the time being it is pure speculation and we’ll have to wait and see. It’s something that I’m not thinking about until the time comes but of course it’s something I would relish.”

Joining Hoy and Murray on the star-studded shortlist are fellow cycling stars Wiggins, Nicole Cooke, Rebecca Romero and further Olympic gold medallists Christine Ohuruogu, Rebecca Adlington and Ben Ainslie.

Completing the list is Calzaghe, fresh from his victory over Roy Jones Jnr and Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton – arguably Hoy’s closest rival.