Sir Chris Hoy has revealed doctors have given him just four years to live in a terminal cancer diagnosis.
He has now written a heartbreaking memoir detailing his experience of terminal cancer.
Who is Sir Chris Hoy?
The Scotsman is a former track cyclist who competed in four summer Olympic Games. He grew up in Murrayfield near Edinburgh and first jumped on a bike at the age of six after he was inspired by the 1982 film ET. Before he moved on to track cycling, he rode a BMX bike until the age of 15 and was ranked second in Britain, fifth in Europe and ninth in the world.
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Hoy has said that he first noticed track cycling during the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh when Scottish sprinter Eddie Alexander won a bronze medal. Away from cycling, Hoy was sporty in other fields – representing Scotland in the Junior rowing team and playing rugby at school. In February 2024, Hoy revealed he was undergoing treatment for cancer. He said the shock diagnosis came in 2023 during a check-up – despite him not having any symptoms. Hoy took to Instagram to make fans aware of his health struggles. He wrote: “I have a bit of news.
“Last year I was diagnosed with cancer, which came as a huge shock, having had no symptoms up to that point. “I’m currently receiving treatment including chemotherapy, which thankfully is going really well. “I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals for their amazing help and care. “For the sake of my young family, I had hoped to keep this information private but regrettably our hand has been forced. “Whilst I’m thankful for any support, I’d like to deal with this privately.”
But Sir Chris in fact knew that the cancer was terminal and that the treatment was “management”.
He went on to commentate the cycling events for the BBC at this year’s Paris Olympics despite his terminal cancer diagnosis.
The star had gone to the doctor in September last year after feeling a strain in his shoulder.
A tumour was found in his shoulder – before a second scan found the primary cancer in his prostate.
The prostate cancer had metastasised to Sir Chris’s bones – including his shoulder, pelvis, ribs, spine and ribs.
He has revealed today that he has terminal cancer and has been given two to four years to live.
Brave Sir Chris told the Sunday Times: “As unnatural as it feels, this is nature.
“You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.
“You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”
Team GB cycling legend Sir Chris and his wife Sarra have two children, seven-year-old Chloe and 10-year-old Callum.
Sir Chris recounted how he told his children that no-one lives for ever but he hopes to “be here for many, many more years”.
He began chemotherapy in November, wearing an extremely painful cold cap to keep his hair.
The sportsman suffered a violent allergic reaction in gruelling chemo sessions – but only missed five days of training on a bike.
He has now written a heartbreaking memoir detailing his experience of terminal cancer.
Sir Chris revealed that his wife Sarra was diagnosed with incurable and degenerative multiple sclerosis just weeks before his cancer shock.
The couple have chosen low-risk but less effective treatments for Sarra’s MS.
On some days Sarra struggles to fit in the key in the door, Sir Chris said.
The couple have not yet told their two children about Sarra’s MS diagnosis.
Sir Chris said recording the audio version of his memoir is the hardest thing he has ever done.
The book ends with Sir Chris’s message to his children – which he said will be the words they listen to when he is gone.
All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet by Sir Chris Hoy is published on November 7.
How old is he?
Hoy celebrated his 47th birthday in March 2023. And he’s achieved a lot in his time. Hoy is an 11-time world champion, with more than half of those medals landed at the Olympics. In 2009, Hoy was knighted by the Prince of Wales for “services to sport” at the same time his mother, Carol, received an MBE for services to nursing.
How many Olympic medals has he won?
Hoy is an 11-time world champion and six-time Olympic champion – which makes him the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time. His three gold medals at the 2008 Olympics secured him the spot of Scotland’s most successful Olympian and he became the first British athlete to win three gold medals in a single games since Henry Taylor in 1908. Olympics 2000 – silver, team sprint (with Craig MacLean and Jason Queally) 2004 – gold, 1km track time trial 2008 – 3 gold, Team sprint (with Jason Kenny and Jamie Staff), Keirin, Sprint 2012 – 2 gold, Team sprint (with Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes), Keirin World Championships 1999 – silver, team sprint 2000 – silver, team sprint 2001 – bronze, team sprint 2002 – 2 gold, 1km time trial, team sprint 2003 – bronze, team sprint 2004 – gold, 1km time trial – bronze, team sprint 2005 – gold, team sprint – bronze, 1km time trial 2006 – gold, 1km time trial – silver, team sprint 2007 – 2 gold, keirin, 1km time trial – silver, team sprint 2008 – 2 gold, sprint, keirin – silver, team sprint 2010 – gold, keirin – bronze, team sprint 2011 – 3 silver, keirin, team sprint, sprint 2012 – gold, keirin – bronze, sprint Commonwealth Games 2002 – gold, 1km time trial – bronze, team sprint (with Craig MacLean and Ross Edgar) 2006 – gold, team sprint (Craig MacLean and Ross Edgar) – bronze, 1km time trial
How many children does he have?
Hoy has been married to wife Sarra since 2010 when they tied the knot at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. They have two children – a son Callum and daughter Chloe. The pair opened up about their struggles in 2021 as both of their children were born premature. Son Callum was born 11 weeks early on October 15, 2014, with Sarra opening up about the trauma that still plagues her. She told the Yorkshire Post: “It was 24 hours before I even saw him. “It was four days before I could hold him and it was like holding a frail baby bird. It was terrifying. “You are separated from your baby by this huge plastic box and they are covered in wires and tubes. They look so fragile you are worried that you will hurt them.” Hoy and his wife’s daughter Chloe was also born premature – about three weeks early. Sarra said: “No one prepares you for having a preterm baby, it is knowing what you can contribute. I was encouraged to touch Callum, but you are scared because they look so fragile.”
Sarra and Hoy have two children – Callum and Chloe[/caption]
