Mayes Yousef
Six-time Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy disclosed on Saturday that he has terminal cancer and has been given a prognosis of “two to four years” by his doctors. The 48-year-old former track cyclist shared in February that he had been diagnosed with the illness and was undergoing chemotherapy, emphasizing at the time that his treatment was progressing well.
However, in an interview with The Sunday Times, the Scottish athlete acknowledged that he knew from the beginning that his condition was terminal. When he asked doctors how much time he had left, they informed him, “Two to four years.”
Reflecting on his diagnosis, Hoy told The Sunday Times, “We are all born, and we all die; this is just part of that journey.” He expressed gratitude for the available treatments, saying, “I’m lucky there’s medicine that can prolong things as much as possible. But most of the battle with cancer has been in my mind, not my body.”
Initially, Hoy dismissed the pain in his shoulder as a gym-related injury. But after a scan, a doctor revealed, “I’m sorry, but there’s a tumor in your shoulder.” Further tests showed the cancer originated in his prostate and had spread to his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine, and ribs.
“It was then,” Hoy remarked, “that I learned how I would die.”
In a further hardship, Hoy revealed that his wife, Sarra, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He described the moment as surreal, saying, “It felt unreal. Just when you think things couldn’t get worse, they do. It was devastating.”
Support has poured in from notable figures. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Hoy’s response “inspiring,” while fellow cyclists and athletes, including Mark Cavendish, Kelly Holmes, and Sarah Storey, also offered messages of encouragement.
Hoy, who was born in Edinburgh, took up track cycling as a teenager. He won his first Olympic medal, a silver, at the 2000 Sydney Games and went on to claim six gold medals across the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Olympics. He also secured 11 world titles before retiring in 2013.
Addressing his illness, Hoy reflected on the nature of life and death, stating, “As strange as it feels, this is part of nature. Many deaths are sudden, leaving no time for goodbyes or closure. I’ve been given time.”