Olympian Chris Hoy Shares Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

Six-time Olympic gold medalist Chris Hoy is sharing heartbreaking details about his cancer diagnosis.

The retired British cyclist revealed that his cancer—which he first announced to the public in February—is terminal and that doctors have given him two to four years to live.

"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," Hoy said of his stage 4 cancer diagnosis in an interview with The Sunday Times published Oct. 20. "Hand on heart, I’m pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness."

He continued, "This is bigger than the Olympics. It’s bigger than anything. This is about appreciating life and finding joy."

The 48-year-old initially went to the hospital in September 2023 after experiencing pain in his shoulder. A scan revealed that he had a tumor there, while an additional scan uncovered that he had primary cancer in his prostate that had spread to his bones. He had tumors in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine and rib.

Hoy—who shares children Callum, 10, and Chloe, 7, with wife Sarra Hoy—went through six rounds of chemo starting last November and was "absolutely broken" by the end of it. 

Making matters even more unimaginable for the family, weeks after Hoy's diagnosis with incurable cancer, his wife, Sarra, found out that she had "very active and aggressive" multiple sclerosis.

"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," Hoy reflected. "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."

Despite the physical effects of his cancer battle, the BBC commentator said that the biggest hurdles for him throughout his health battle have been mental.

"I'm not trying to pretend that every day is amazing," he explained. "But I have genuine moments of joy. I have laughter. I'm not thinking about it all the time. I'm back to my old self."

Indeed, Hoy—who began his Olympic career at the 2000 Sydney Games and retired following the 2012 London Olympics—returned to commentating for the BBC in July and is currently covering the World Track Cycling Championships for the TV network in Copenhagen.

"You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health," Hoy wrote on Instagram Oct. 20, "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!"

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