Love and support from around the world of sport and beyond has been sent to Sir Chris Hoy, who has publicly announced that his cancer is terminal.
In an interview with the Sunday Times published this weekend, the British cycling great and Olympic icon, 48, confirmed the devastating news that doctors had given him between two to four years to live.
Hoy first announced back in February that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and was receiving chemotherapy.
However, Hoy has now confirmed after an initial tumour was discovered in his shoulder that he was diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate, which is now at stage four after also spreading to his pelvis, hip, ribs and spine.
Hoy revealed that he had known about his terminal diagnosis for a year. He said: “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.”
Hoy - one of the heroes of London 2012 - is one of Great Britain’s true and most decorated all-time sporting greats, a six-time Olympic champion on the cycling track and 11-time world champion who claimed scores of other medals and titles across his illustrious career that ended with his retirement in 2013.
He reigned as both Britain’s most decorated Olympian of all time and the most successful cyclist ever to compete in the Games, until he was overtaken by friend and former GB team-mate Sir Jason Kenny at the delayed Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.
After his retirement, Hoy - who was knighted in 2009 following his success at the 2008 Beijing Games - became part of the BBC’s cycling coverage, using his wealth of knowledge and top-level experience to offer punditry and analysis across the Olympics and elsewhere, including at the current UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Copenhagen.
Figures from around the world of sport and beyond have expressed their support for Chris and the Hoy family, with Chris also revealing that his wife Sarra was diagnosed with “very active and aggressive” multiple sclerosis just weeks after his own diagnosis.
Hoy wrote on Instagram on Saturday evening: “You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m feeling fit, strong and positive, and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me. Onwards!”
Chris Hoy is one of the finest to ever represent our country. Thoughts with him, Sarra and his immediate family.
— Matthew Pinsent (@matthewcpinsent) October 19, 2024
Hoy’s fellow British Olympic legend, the former rower Matthew Pinsent, wrote on X: “Chris Hoy is one of the finest to ever represent our country. Thoughts with him, Sarra and his immediate family.”
Fellow cycling great Mark Cavendish replied to Hoy’s Instagram message: “Hero of a human being.”
1992 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sally Gunnell wrote: “You’re incredible Chris, sending much love and strength.”
Jessica Ennis-Hill, one of the stars of the London 2012 Olympics alongside Hoy, wrote: “Sending you so much love Chris.”
Dame Kelly Holmes - Britain’s double gold medalist from Athens 2004 - wrote: “Sending love to you Chris”, while record-breaking Paralympic cyclist Dame Sarah Storey wrote: “Sending much love and strength.”
England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson said: “Your inspiration is second to none Chris.”
“If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same”.
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) October 20, 2024
Blown away by the resilience and determination of Sir Chris Hoy this morning.
Shortly after being told that he has between 2-4 years to live because of his terminal cancer… his lovely… pic.twitter.com/wSHPnwXt8f
Former BBC Sport presenter Dan Walker wrote: “’If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same’.
“Blown away by the resilience and determination of Sir Chris Hoy this morning.
“Shortly after being told that he has between 2-4 years to live because of his terminal cancer… his lovely wife, Sarra, was diagnosed with MS.
“The man remains an incredible inspiration. Sending love to the whole family.”
