Support pours in for Chris Hoy after terminal cancer diagnosis

Messages of support have poured in for the Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy after he revealed he had received a terminal cancer diagnosis.

- Hannah Al-Othman

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Hoy, who won six golds and one silver medal for Team GB, said doctors had told him he had between two and four years to live. While Hoy, 48, had said this year that he had been receiving treatment for cancer, he did not say which type, but he told the paper he had been diagnosed with primary cancer in his prostate, which had spread to his bones.

His wife, Sarra, has also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease. The couple have two children, Chloe, 7, and Callum, 10.

“As unnatural as it feels, this is nature,” Hoy 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.’”

“Hand on heart, I’m pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness,” he added. “This is bigger than the Olympics. It’s bigger than anything. This is about appreciating life and finding joy.”

Hoy made no reference to his personal news as he presented from the Track Cycling World Championships on the BBC yesterday afternoon.