Upon receiving his terminal cancer diagnosis, Sir Chris Hoy found himself unable to enjoy music.
Whether it was too reflective, too sad, or simply too upbeat, music stirred up emotions and memories that felt overwhelming.
It was a moment when everything seemed to change.
Yet, despite the gravity of his situation, the six-time Olympic cycling champion has garnered admiration worldwide for how he has faced the news that he may have less than four years to live.
Embracing a Stoic Mindset
Rather than wallowing in despair, Hoy has adopted a line from the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca: “He who worries before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary.”
These words have become something of a personal mantra for Hoy, guiding him through the challenging moments.
His focus has shifted entirely to what he can do in the present, refusing to get bogged down by sorrow over the past.
Hoy’s drive remains unwavering, and he continues to push his body to remarkable limits.
Even now, he can squat 160 kilograms—roughly the same weight as a donkey—and generate an impressive 1,600 watts on his bike, about 80% of what he could achieve before his diagnosis.
Battling Through Treatment
Hoy’s resilience remains remarkable, especially after undergoing chemotherapy following his stage four cancer diagnosis in September 2023.
The cancer had spread to his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine, and ribs, but Hoy’s mental fortitude has never faltered.
Despite the ongoing treatment, which focuses on secondary bone tumors, Hoy continues to defy the odds, refusing to allow his illness to define him.
A Turning Point on the Hill
A pivotal moment in Hoy’s journey occurred last May when, after two months of chemotherapy, he embarked on a ride through Greece with a group of amateur cyclists.
As he struggled to ride uphill while talking, he realized that he had to reset his expectations and stop comparing himself to his previous form.
It was a humbling experience, but one that helped him shift his mindset.
“I’ve got to reset here and not compare myself to where I used to be,” Hoy reflected.
Progress in Recovery
Hoy’s determination paid off just a few months later.
When he returned to Greece five months later, he found that he was able to handle the same terrain much more comfortably.
“It’s nice that you can see progress,” he shared.
“You assume that everything is heading one way, everything is getting worse, everything is going downhill, and it’s not.
“I’ve been able to get fitter in the last 18 months; post-chemo I’ve been able to improve.”
Drawing Hope from Others
In his fight against cancer, Hoy has also found inspiration from the stories of others.
He learned that an American and a Canadian, both diagnosed with the same condition in their 60s, had lived for more than two decades after their prognosis.
“I’m not saying that I’m going to be that person,” Hoy admitted, “But once you know something is possible, it’s a way of finding your own hope.”
A Shared Struggle
As if the cancer diagnosis wasn’t enough, just three months later, Hoy’s wife Sarra revealed that she had been diagnosed with a “very active and aggressive” form of multiple sclerosis.
It was a condition that was both degenerative and incurable.
For Hoy and Sarra, one of the most difficult moments came when they had to explain to their two young children, Callum and Chloe, that their father had cancer.
At first, they decided not to share Sarra’s condition with the children, wanting to avoid overwhelming them.
Sarra had kept her diagnosis to herself, even as Hoy began his own cancer treatments.
The Silent Struggle
Hoy later shared in his autobiography All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet the deep heartbreak he felt upon realizing that Sarra had been silently dealing with her own health crisis to protect him.
It was a revelation that left a lasting impact, but the couple continued to face their challenges together.
Throughout the ordeal, Steve Peters, a renowned sports psychiatrist who had been working with Hoy since before the 2004 Olympics, provided invaluable support.
Peters became a key source of emotional strength and guidance during this tumultuous time.
Seeking Answers
In an effort to cope with his diagnosis, Hoy turned to Peters for answers that neither he nor Sarra could bring themselves to seek.
Peters took on the difficult task of researching what was ahead for Hoy.
He found the stories of two men—one American, one Canadian—who had survived a similar prognosis, living far longer than their doctors had expected.
“I don’t Google anything about my diagnosis, because I just find it a terrifying thing to do,” Hoy confessed.
“But I also didn’t want to turn my back on it… so I would ask Steve questions and say: ‘Look, can you go and find out about this?
I don’t want to know all the other things around it; I want to know who’s lived the longest with stage four prostate cancer.'”
A Newfound Optimism
The discovery of these stories gave Hoy a new sense of optimism and hope.
It’s a message that will resonate with many who draw inspiration from his strength and determination.
For Hoy, knowing that survival beyond expectations is possible has become a powerful source of hope—both for himself and those who follow his journey.