Inside Sir Chris Hoy’s family life, from wife Sarra supporting incredible cycling career to fathering two adorable kids
CHRIS HOY has revealed the sad news that his cancer is terminal and he has up to four years to live.
The six-time Olympic gold medal winning cyclist kept his terminal diagnosis a secret for a year as he continued his media work, which included covering the Paris Olympics.
Six time Olympic medalist Sir Chris Hoy celebrates winning gold at London 2012
Brave Hoy revealed his cancer is now terminal and has up to four years to live
Brave Sir Chris, 48, 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.”
Back in February, Hoy announced he was being “treated for cancer” and claimed it was going well – though knew in reality it was just “management”.
The star had gone to the doctor in late September last year after feeling a strain in his shoulder.
A tumour was found, before a second scan discovered the primary cancer in his prostate.
It had metastasised to Sir Chris’s bones – including his shoulder, pelvis, ribs, and spine.
Speaking of the appointment in which he found out about the tumour, he told the Sunday Times he thought “I’m just getting a bit old for lifting heavy weights”.
Referred by his physiotherapist for a scan, he went to hospital alone, expecting to be told to lay off upper-body work in the gym for a few weeks.
“I’m really sorry,” the doctor told him. The nurse’s eyes filled with tears. “There’s a tumour in your shoulder.”
Heartbreakingly, Sir Chris’ wife Sarra was told she had incurable and degenerative MS just weeks before his cancer news – with the couple opting not to tell the kids about their mother’s illness.
But they decided to be honest about their dad’s diagnosis.
The Hoy family share a warm and happy existence, as SunSport reveals.
Strong family support network
Hoy is one of our greatest ever sports stars, achieving success on the global stage at the Olympics.
Not only has he won six gold medals and one silver, the Scot is an 11-time world champion.
With that comes sacrifices, gruelling training sessions and competitions that take you away from your loved ones.
He has continuously praised his wife of 14 years for being with him every step of the way.
At the 2012 Olympics in London, after winning gold, he said: “Sarra has been the one that has really got me through it all.”
An emotional Sir Chris spoke about his wife’s support after scoring success in 2012
Sarra and Sir Chris have been married for 14 years
Sarra is also battling Multiple sclerosis – which she learned before Hoy’s diagnosis
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.”
Trauma with the birth of their children
Both of Hoy and Sarra’s children’s births have been complicated.
In 2014, son Callum was born 11 weeks premature and had to kept in hospital.
In an interview with the Yorkshire Post in 2021, Sarra said: “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.
Hoy and Sarra’s son Callum was born 11 weeks premature and had to be kept in hospital
Sarra revealed she is still traumatised by both of her children’s premature births
Like dad, both Callum and Chloe are keen cyclists
Sir Chris larks about on his son’s push bike in the garden of the family home
“They look so fragile you are worried that you will hurt them.”
In 2017, Sir Chris shared a loving photo of his son, aged two, following in his footsteps on a push bike on Instagram – racing around their garden.
Daughter Chloe was also born 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.”
‘Hardest thing I’ve ever done’
Hoy, a proud father to children Callum, 9, and Chloe, 6, made sure he put his kids first after his diagnosis, originally shielding them from the news.
However, he admitted living in worry they might learn about his condition from their peers at school who could say, “I saw your daddy on the news last night and he’s going to die.”
Sir Chris revealed he initially shielded his children from his cancer diagnosis
Sir Chris has dedicated the last chapter of his book as a final message to his kids
Over dinner, Hoy calmly explained his cancer to them. When asked if he was going to die by son Callum, he revealed his hopes “to be here for many, many years.”
“I never want to lie to them,’ he told the Sunday Times, “but there are certain things you don’t need to tell them straight away.”
In his upcoming memoir, All that Matters: My Toughest Race Yet the last chapter is dedicated to a message to his children.
Sir Chris revealed he found it traumatic to read out aloud when he was recording the audio version for the book.
He said: “[You’re] reading the words out loud, you have to connect emotionally.
“You’ve got to actually read in a way that means something. But the risk is getting too close to it – because you’re suddenly thinking, these are the words that my kids will listen to when I’m gone.
“And that is, without doubt, the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Sir Chris has continued his media work for the BBC
Hoy, Sarra and the family will spend a few weeks away to avoid the media scrutiny
