Meares' gold in a packed velodrome came just four months after she won the world championship in Melbourne.

CNN: Time trial wins for Hoy and Meares

According to a report in the Financial Times last February HSBC has been in advanced talks to move Chris Meares, the global head of its private bank, to Hong Kong from London.

FORBES

Meanwhile, Australia's Anna Meares set a world record to win the women's 500m time trial in a race she might well have missed had it not been for an injury to her older sister.

CNN: Time trial wins for Hoy and Meares

Meares' sister Kerrie had been favourite to take Australia's berth in the race but complications arising from a fall she had in Russia two years ago meant she had to have surgery which ruled her out of the Athens Games.

CNN: Time trial wins for Hoy and Meares