What happened to Sir Chris Hoy? All we know about the incurable disease six-time Olympic champion is suffering from

Cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy made a heartbreaking announcement early this year in February, confirming the rumors that he was suffering from cancer. While he depicted hope and optimism, the six-time Olympic champion has claimed that his prostate cancer is incurable.

Hoy is regarded as one of the greatest track cyclists, having won 11 World titles and six Olympic titles before retiring in 2013. He remained in touch with the sport even after retirement as part of the BBC's cycling coverage.

However, his life took a major turn in September 2023 when a regular scan detected a tumor in his shoulder. Further scans confirmed the ‘rude shock’ for Hoy, as the cancer had already reached the fourth stage with the primary tumor located in his prostate.

Hoy confessed about the disease in an Instagram post in February 2024, writing:

"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."

His optimism was evident in real life when he joined the BBC's broadcasting team at the Paris Olympics. However, speaking in an interview with The Sunday Times on October 19, the 48-year-old confessed that his disease was incurable.

"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," he said.

"Hand on heart, I'm pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness. This is bigger than the Olympics. It's bigger than anything. This is about appreciating life and finding joy," Sir Chris Hoy added.

The doctor further told Hoy that he only had two to four years to live. The 48-year-old is now undergoing chemotherapy while simultaneously penning down a memoir of his life.

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A look at the illustrious career of Sir Chris Hoy

Sir Chris Hoy in attendance at the 2024 Wimbledon (Source: Getty)

Sir Chris Hoy joined his first cycling club, Dunedin C.C., at 14. He switched to track cycling three years later and in 1999, he won his first major global medal at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships.

Hoy made his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games where he won the silver in the Team Sprint. While he didn't win any individual medal in Australia, the 48-year-old went on to put on one of the greatest performances at the 2004 Athens, cycling an Olympic and a world record to win the gold medal in the 1 Kilometer Time Trial.

The British icon went on to compete at the 2008 and the 2012 London Olympics as well, amassing six Olympic titles. Before announcing his retirement in 2013, Hoy had won 11 world titles and is widely regarded for mainstreaming track cycling in Great Britain, and has also been awarded BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the same.