The esteemed Olympian Sir Chris Hoy recently shared his experiences coping with terminal cancer, recalling how he willingly wore a ‘distressingly painful’ cold cap during his chemotherapy sessions. The motivation for putting up with such discomfort was simple: he didn’t want his young son to witness him losing his hair due to treatment. It was only this week that the six-time Olympic gold medal champion publicly admitted to his terminal condition. Initially in February, Hoy announced he started his cancer treatment, yet he remained hopeful and continued contributing as a BBC pundit during the Paris Olympics in summer.
At age 48, Sir Chris Hoy did not shy away from recounting the courageous measures he took to protect his two children, Callum and Chloe, then aged nine and six respectively, from the harsh reality of his serious ailment. In response to his son’s frequent queries about potential hair loss, Hoy opted to persist through the icy torment of a ‘cold cap’ during his chemotherapy sessions to maintain his usual appearance for Callum’s sake. Hoy shared the news of his diagnosis with his children over dinner, which led to Callum questioning whether his dad would fall victim to the illness. Hoy explained that everyone has to pass eventually, but he is holding on thanks to the chemotherapy.
Later, amidst a whirlwind of media attention, Hoy made a decision to retreat to a vacation with his family, allowing time for the ‘storm to pass’ before they return to their normal lives. Hoy confessed that one of his anxieties was a scenario where a schoolmate might tell one of his children, ‘I saw your daddy on the news and he’s going to die.’ Though acknowledging such circumstances are not impossible, Hoy affirmed, ‘If it occurs, we will cope.’ He shared that the unconditional love of his children helped him treasure each day and navigate through tough times.
In a twist of fate, it was revealed that Sarra Hoy, Chris’s wife, had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – an incurable degenerative disease. Despite learning about her condition in November, in the heart of the distress resulting from her husband’s diagnosis, Sarra held back on breaking her own health news to her husband until December. On challenging days, she struggles with seemingly simple tasks like fitting the key in the door. However, she exhibited utter resilience, continuing with her regular physical activities, including running and gym sessions.
Sir Chris Hoy has an illustrious sporting legacy, having won six Olympic gold medals for Team GB spanning from 2004 to 2012. He shared an update eight months ago via a post, writing, ‘I am presently under treatment, which includes chemotherapy, and it’s progressing really well. I am hopeful, confident… At the moment, I feel healthy. I am determined to carry on working, cycling and leading a normal life.’
Hoy’s cancer journey began with an unexpected turn when he felt a discomfort in his shoulder back in September of the previous year. Following a consultation with the doctor, a tumor was identified in his shoulder. Further examination revealed that the origin of the cancer was in his prostate. The adverse impact of the prostate cancer was severe as it had metastasized to Hoy’s bones, spreading into his shoulder, pelvis, spine, and ribs.
In 2008, Sir Chris Hoy received royal recognition for his athletic accomplishments and was knighted while still being an active competitor. His knighthood came shortly after he made history as the first British male Olympian in a century to clinch three gold medals at a single Games.