In a deeply personal revelation, Sir Chris Hoy has shared that his father, David, was diagnosed with prostate cancer just six weeks before his record-breaking medal haul at the London 2012 Olympics.
The cycling legend, now 48, who recently revealed that his own prostate cancer is terminal with doctors giving him two to four years to live, first spoke about the devastating moment in his 2012 autobiography.
Unlike Sir Chris, his father’s cancer was detected early and treated successfully. His grandfather also battled prostate cancer and survived. But for Hoy, who is now enduring aggressive chemotherapy, the diagnosis carries a far more devastating prognosis.
In Chris Hoy: The Autobiography, the six-time Olympic champion recalled rushing home early from an intense training camp in Germany, already in pain from an injury, when the phone call that changed everything came.
“At 7pm the next evening, my dad called and said he had news for me. And then he told me, perfectly calmly, that he had prostate cancer. It hits you like a sledgehammer.”
The relief came only later when further tests revealed a more optimistic outlook for David.
“Fortunately, after more tests later, the news on my dad was more positive. The doctors seemed pretty optimistic that it’s treatable. But the relief came later: at the time it was pretty awful for the whole family,” Hoy wrote.
Despite the turmoil, Hoy carried the Union Flag proudly into the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony and went on to dominate in the velodrome, winning gold in both the keirin and the team sprint events.
His proud parents, David and Carol, were in the stands, roaring with every pedal stroke.
After his son’s thrilling gold medal win in the keirin, David unfurled a sign that read: “The Real McHoy.” Overcome with emotion, he told reporters at the time:
“I am just so proud of him on every level. I am going to start crying. You bottle everything up and then it all comes out.”
Now 79, David Hoy remains listed as secretary of his son’s company, Trackstars Ltd.
Tragedy, however, has long shadowed the family. Both of Sir Chris’s grandparents on his father’s side died of leukaemia — a fact the cyclist shared during a charity event for Cancer Research UK years ago.
The news of his father’s diagnosis explains Hoy’s passionate support for Movember and his fundraising efforts for Prostate Cancer UK that year. Statistics show that in the UK, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. The risk increases with age and is even higher for Black men or those with a family history of the disease.
The Hoy family’s heartbreak deepened just before Christmas when his wife, Sarra, 40, was diagnosed with an aggressive, incurable form of multiple sclerosis after noticing a tingling sensation in her face and tongue. On difficult days, she struggles even to open their front door.
Despite the crushing diagnoses, Sir Chris remains determined to stay positive.
“I’m not trying to pretend that every day is amazing,” he told The Sunday Times. “But I have genuine moments of joy… I’m back to my old self.”
Tributes have poured in for the beloved Olympian since the news broke. Fellow cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish hailed him as “a hero of a human being,” while Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson praised him, saying his “legacy is second to none.” British Winter Olympic champion Amy Williams added:
“A pure superhuman who everyone loves.”
As Sir Chris faces his toughest battle yet, his strength, resilience, and humility continue to inspire a nation that has cheered him on through every race — and now, through the fight of his life.
Source: Daily Mail
