Six-time Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy has revealed that he is battling terminal cancer. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Hoy disclosed that doctors have given him a life expectancy of two to four years after discovering that his prostate cancer had spread to his bones, placing him in stage four.
Despite the gravity of his diagnosis, the legendary cyclist remains positive. On Instagram, he reassured his followers, saying, “I’m feeling fit, strong, and positive,” following the release of the interview. His message was met with an outpouring of support from fans, athletes, and public figures alike.
Sir Chris first learned about his diagnosis last year after a routine scan for shoulder pain, which he initially believed to be a gym-related injury. However, the scan revealed tumors in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine, and rib, leading to the terminal cancer diagnosis. Hoy acknowledged the harsh reality of his situation but remains focused on appreciating life. “You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process,” he told The Sunday Times. “Hand on heart, I’m pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness. This is bigger than the Olympics.”
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Hoy’s openness about his diagnosis has been met with admiration. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who himself battled cancer, expressed his respect for Hoy’s courage. Speaking on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, Streeting praised the cyclist’s positive outlook, saying, “That’s worth even more than the stack of Olympic gold that he’s built up over his career.” Streeting added that Hoy had done “the country such an enormous service” by being transparent about his battle with terminal illness.
Support has poured in from across the sports world. Fellow Olympic athletes, including Mark Cavendish and Dame Kelly Holmes, shared heartfelt messages on social media. Cavendish called Hoy a “hero of a human being,” while Holmes expressed her love for the cycling legend. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed Hoy as “a British sporting legend,” and the British Cycling account added its own tribute with a heart symbol.
Hoy’s battle comes at a difficult time for his family. His wife, Sarra, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just before his own cancer diagnosis. Together, they are raising their two young children, Callum and Chloe, who were aged nine and six when their father received the life-changing news.
Hoy’s cycling career remains one of the most decorated in British history. He won six Olympic gold medals between 2004 and 2012, making him the second-most successful British Olympian. Since retiring in 2013, he has continued to be involved in the sport, regularly working as a pundit for BBC Sport’s cycling coverage. He is also set to release a memoir next month, a project he has been working on since his diagnosis.
Through his candid approach to his illness, Sir Chris Hoy continues to inspire fans around the world, reminding everyone to find joy and positivity even in the most challenging of circumstances.
