Two years ago, Sir Chris Hoy’s life changed forever when a routine check for shoulder and rib pain led to a devastating cancer diagnosis. The six-time Olympic gold medallist admitted it was the “biggest shock of my life,” recalling how he stumbled home in a daze, wondering how he would break the news to his wife Sarra.
Weeks later, further scans revealed an even darker reality. The primary cancer in his prostate had spread to his bones, with tumours in his pelvis, hip, spine, shoulder, and ribs. Doctors gave him just two to four years to live. To make matters worse, Sarra was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis around the same time, leaving Chris to describe their situation as “a waking nightmare” as they faced telling their children, Chloe and Callum.
Yet the journey has been painful. Tumours caused a spinal fracture that once left him unable to lift his daughter, a moment he called “horrendous.” Only after undergoing a cement injection procedure to repair his vertebrae could he return to lifting weights — and lifting his little girl.
Now 49, Hoy admits his life is full, busy, and more meaningful than ever. He continues to exercise, travel, and spend precious time with his family. “It’s not about bucket lists,” he explained. “It’s about enjoying the mundane, daily fun of life.”
