Chris Hoy is best known as a six-time Olympic gold medalist in cycling. Born in Edinburgh in 1976, Chris began cycling at 14 and won his first Olympic medal at the 2000 Sydney Games, winning silver in the team sprint.
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Before retiring in 2013, Chris Hoy won six Olympic gold medals, 11 world championships and 34 World Cup titles. The only cyclist to have won more Olympic golds is his former teammate, Sir Jason Kenny.
Over the weekend (October 19-20), Chris Hoy, 48, shared some devastating news—he has stage 4 terminal cancer.
Chris Hoy has terminal cancer
As reported by CNN, former Olympic cyclist, Chris Hoy announced he has terminal cancer and his doctors have said he has 2 to 4 years to live. Speaking with The Sunday Times, Hoy revealed he had gone to hospital for a pain in his shoulder, which he thought was just a gym injury.
However, a scan revealed he had prostate cancer and it had metastasised to tumours in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and ribs. In his upcoming book, which was shared with The Times, Chris wrote:
And just like that, I learn how I will die.
Chris Hoy shared his initial cancer diagnosis in February 2024 after he was told someone was going to leak before him. The former Olympian felt ‘forced’ to share about his health, but he kept some control and didn’t initially reveal that it was terminal.
At the time, he said he said it was ‘going well’ and he was ‘optimistic, positive and surrounded by love for which I’m truly grateful’ after his diagnosis in 2023, as per Mirror.
Sadly, for the Hoy family, Chris’s cancer was not the only devastating diagnosis, as his wife, Sarra, was also diagnosed with an incurable disease.
Chris Hoy’s wife, Sarra diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
As per Mirror, just a few months after Chris Hoy’s cancer diagnosis, his wife, Sarra, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Sarra’s doctor had ordered a scan to investigate the tingly sensation in her face and tongue.
In November, she was told it was MS but didn’t tell her husband until December. Sarra was given two options for treatment, more potentially effective but riskier new treatments or low-risk but less effective options, they opted for the low-risk option, as reported by Mirror.
Chris explains in his book that after the double blow, it was the first time he was close to ‘why me?’
It’s the closest I’ve come to, like, you know, why me? Just, what? What’s going on here? It didn’t seem real. It was such a huge blow, when you’re already reeling.
You think nothing could possibly get worse. You literally feel like you’re at rock bottom, and you find out, oh no, you’ve got further to fall. It was brutal.
Chris revealed that on Sarra’s worst days, she struggles to put a key in the door, but she remains positive.
She says all the time, ‘How lucky are we? We both have incurable illnesses for which there is some treatment. Not every disease has that. It could be a lot worse.’
Chris has explained that he and Sarra have yet to tell their two children Callum, nine, and Chloe, six, about their mother’s diagnosis.
Chris’s book, All That Matters will be published on 7th November in hardback, e-book and audiobook. His memoir will cover his cancer diagnosis, the extent of his illness and how he plans to live the rest of his life, as per The Bookseller.
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Sources Used:
Mirror: ‘Chris Hoy's wife also diagnosed with incurable disease - "We've hit rock bottom and not telling kids"
The Sunday Times: ‘Sir Chris Hoy: ‘I have terminal cancer but I still feel lucky’
Mirror: ‘Sir Chris Hoy health update after Olympic hero's cancer treatment and where he is now’
CNN: ‘Six-time Olympic champion Chris Hoy, 48, announces terminal cancer diagnosis’
The Bookseller: ‘Sir Chris Hoy's 'major' new book to be published by Hodder & Stoughton after cancer diagnosis’
