Six-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy has announced that his cancer is terminal.
The 48-year-old cyclist revealed in an interview for The Sunday Times announced on Sunday, October 20 that he had been given two to four years to live after initially revealing his diagnosis of the disease earlier this year.
Hoy — who was awarded the MBE (Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the United Kingdom — said time that he first went to hospital in September 2023 after experiencing pain in his shoulder and was advised to undergo a scan.
“I’m really sorry,” Hoy recalled the doctor telling him, according to the outlet. “You have a tumor in your shoulder.”
Sir Chris Hoy, former professional cyclist, performs the Coup de Baton ceremony before the men’s sprint final on day fourteen of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Tim de Waele/Getty
A second scan revealed he had stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, and he also had tumors in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and ribs.
Hoy — who has worked as a commentator for the BBC and is currently covering the World Track Cycling Championships in Copenhagen since retiring after the 2012 London Games — immediately began treatment, including chemotherapy, and returned to his TV role by July, he said for times.
In addition, just weeks before Hoy learned of his cancer, his wife Sara was diagnosed with “very active and aggressive” multiple sclerosis, he told the newspaper.
“As unnatural as it may seem, this is nature,” Hoy said time about his thoughts on death—many of which he said leave “no chance to say goodbye or come to terms with everything. But I was given enough time.”
“You know, we’re all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process,” he added.
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Hoy also told the publication that he first decided to share the news of his diagnosis on Instagram in February this year – but chose not to reveal to the public that he was terminally ill.
“I am currently undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, which fortunately is going very well,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “I’m optimistic, positive… I feel good right now. I continue to work, ride a bike and live normally.”
The Olympian made his debut at the 2000 Sydney Games, where he won silver in the men’s team sprint event. His first gold medal came in 2004 in Athens for the men’s 1000m time trial.
He later took home three different medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in three different events and won two gold medals at London 2012, making him Britain’s most decorated Olympian, although cyclist Jason Kenny later surpassed him.
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Many of Hoye’s supporters took to social media following his cancer news, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that it was “such sad news”.
“Chris is a British sporting legend,” added the politician. “To face his diagnosis with such positivity is inspiring. The whole country is behind him and his family.”
For the athlete – who is a father of two children – his diagnosis served as an opportunity to reflect on his life and what truly makes him happy.
“… Honestly, I’m pretty positive most of the time and I’m genuinely happy. This is bigger than the Olympics. It’s bigger than anything,” he said elsewhere in his interview with time. “This is about the value of life and finding joy.”
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Source: HIS Education