Britain’s six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, who also has 11 track cycling world titles and 34 World Cup victories, has announced that his cancer is terminal.
In 2023, the former athlete was diagnosed with two to four years left to live, writes the DPA agency.
“As unnatural as it may seem, it’s nature. We’re all born and we all die and it’s just part of the process,” Hoy, 48, told The Sunday Times newspaper, adding that he reminds himself: “Aren’t I lucky , that there is a drug I can take that will stave this off as long as possible.”
A tumor was found in Chris Hoy’s shoulder, and a second scan also revealed primary prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. Tumors were also found in his pelvis, thigh, spine and ribs. The cancer is in the fourth stage and is incurable, although the former cyclist is undergoing treatment.
Hoy and his wife Sarah have two children, seven-year-old Chloe and 10-year-old Callum. He remembers Callum, who is nine years old in 2023, asking him if he is going to die, and he tells him that no one lives forever, but he hopes, thanks to the drug, to “be here for many, many years.”
Just before Christmas it was confirmed that his wife has multiple sclerosis which is “very active and aggressive” and needs urgent treatment. The couple has not yet told their children about Sarah’s diagnosis.
In February, while undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, Chris Hoy said he felt “compelled” to go public with his cancer diagnosis. At the time, Hoy said he was “doing very well” and was “upbeat, positive and surrounded by love, which I’m really grateful for.”
On his Instagram account, he commented: “For the sake of my young family, I was hoping to keep this information private. I was diagnosed with cancer last year, which came as a huge shock as I had no symptoms until then. Although I am grateful for all the support , I’d like to deal with this alone”. Hoy added that the diagnosis came as a “huge shock”.
He has now revealed that two days after his initial diagnosis, he was informed that his primary prostate cancer had spread.
Hoy also said he would continue to ride his bike and was looking forward to the year ahead, adding: “I’m still working, riding my bike and living my life as usual.”