Chris Hoy’s wife Sarra ‘got him through it all’ as he faces ‘difficult’ cancer treatment while ‘surrounded by love’
SIR Chris Hoy’s wife Sarra is be standing strong by his side following his terminal cancer diagnosis.
Olympics legend Sir Chris has revealed doctors have given him just four years to live.
Chris Hoy says his wife Sarra has always been his support system
Sarra HoyHe says Sarra, pictured with their children Callum and Chloe, had ‘got him through it all’[/caption]
INSTAGRAM@CHRISHOYChris Hoy revealed his diagnosis in a statement on Instagram[/caption]
He took to Instagram today to share the news with fans, as he said he’d been surrounded with love.
And Sir Chris has always praised his wife of 14 years for being by his side – on and off the track.
In 2012, after winning gold at London’s velodrome, he said: “Sarra has been the one that has really got me through it all.”
The 47-year-old today revealed he’d been diagnosed with the disease last year.
The Scottish Olympian bravely wrote in a statement: ” I have a bit of news.
“Last year I was diagnosed with cancer, which came as a huge shock, having had no symptoms up to that point.
“I’m currently receiving treatment including chemotherapy, which thankfully is going really well.
“I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals for their amazing help and care.
“For the sake of my young family, I had hoped to keep this information private but regrettably our hand has been forced.
“Whilst I’m thankful for any support, I’d like to deal with this privately.”
But Sir Chris in fact knew that the cancer was terminal and that the treatment was “management”.
He went on to commentate the cycling events for the BBC at this year’s Paris Olympics despite his terminal cancer diagnosis.
The star had gone to the doctor in September last year after feeling a strain in his shoulder.
A tumour was found in his shoulder – before a second scan found the primary cancer in his prostate.
The prostate cancer had metastasised to Sir Chris’s bones – including his shoulder, pelvis, ribs, spine and ribs.
He has revealed today that he has terminal cancer and has been given two to four years to live.
Brave Sir Chris told the Sunday Times: “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.
“You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”
Team GB cycling legend Sir Chris and his wife Sarra have two children, seven-year-old Chloe and 10-year-old Callum.
Sir Chris recounted how he told his children that no-one lives for ever but he hopes to “be here for many, many more years”.
He began chemotherapy in November, wearing an extremely painful cold cap to keep his hair.
The sportsman suffered a violent allergic reaction in gruelling chemo sessions – but only missed five days of training on a bike.
He has now written a heartbreaking memoir detailing his experience of terminal cancer.
Sir Chris revealed that his wife Sarra was diagnosed with incurable and degenerative multiple sclerosis just weeks before his cancer shock.
The couple have chosen low-risk but less effective treatments for Sarra’s MS.
On some days Sarra struggles to fit in the key in the door, Sir Chris said.
The couple have not yet told their two children about Sarra’s MS diagnosis.
Sir Chris said recording the audio version of his memoir is the hardest thing he has ever done.
The book ends with Sir Chris’s message to his children – which he said will be the words they listen to when he is gone.
All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet by Sir Chris Hoy is published on November 7.
In 2012, after winning his sixth gold Olympic medal, Sir Chris opened up about what gave him strength.
In a TV interview watched by millions, just one year before he retired, the Olympian said: “It is fantastic when you step off the track and the final product is a gold medal.
“It looks like it has never been in doubt, which was not the case with the keirin. To see the performances, you think it must always be good but it is anything but.
“There were troughs and dips in the past four years and she has been there the whole way – never complained and never moaned or become frustrated with cycling because that has been put first over everything.
“When I saw her at the end, and was able to give her a big hug and a kiss, I realised we have done it and gone through it.”
The pair have two children – Callum and Chloe.
How Chris Hoy went from lad on £5 bike inspired by ET to 6-time Olympic champion
By Jonathan Rose
SIR Chris Hoy began cycling at the age of six after he was inspired by the 1982 film ET.
Before he moved on to track cycling, he rode a BMX bike until the age of 15.
Sir Chris was ranked second in Britain, fifth in Europe and ninth in the World.
His dad picked up a £5 bike from a jumble sale – four years later Sir Chris was competing in the semi-final of a BMX world championship race.
“I was six when I saw ET,” he told The Guardian in 2020. “It changed my life. I wasn’t interested in cycling at all before.”
“The bikes I’d seen in Edinburgh just seemed functional things for getting from A to B,” continued Hoy, who grew up in Murrayfield.
“Then I saw those BMX bikes on screen and I was hooked. It wasn’t the scene where they cycle across the sky, but when they get chased by the police and they’re doing jumps and skidding round corners.
“It was the most exciting thing I’d ever seen. I wanted to do that.”
Four years later he became part of the British national squad.
A world championship medal came in 1999 with silver in the team sprint.
Sir Chris went on to become the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time.
Sir Chris and Sarra have always been open about the struggles they went through with the children, who were both born prematurely.
Son Callum was born 11 weeks early in 2014, with Sarra revealing the trauma that still plagues her.
She told the Yorkshire Post in 2021: “It was 24 hours before I even saw him.
“It was four days before I could hold him and it was like holding a frail baby bird. It was terrifying.
“You are separated from your baby by this huge plastic box and they are covered in wires and tubes. They look so fragile you are worried that you will hurt them.”
The couple’s daughter Chloe was also born premature – about three weeks early.
Sarra said: “No one prepares you for having a preterm baby, it is knowing what you can contribute. I was encouraged to touch Callum, but you are scared because they look so fragile.”
Hoy revealed he had cancer in an Instagram post todayNEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
