Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy will be honoured in a special tribute during the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards this Thursday, following a devastating double health blow for his family. The sporting icon and his wife, Sarra, have been navigating a "living nightmare" after both received life-altering diagnoses within weeks of each other.
A Devastating Diagnosis and a Family's Strength
Sir Chris first sought medical attention in September 2023 for what he thought was a simple injury from the gym, affecting his shoulder and ribs. The news he received was catastrophic: he had Stage 4 prostate cancer. He described the moment as the "biggest shock of his life." Further scans revealed the primary cancer was in his prostate but had already spread to his bones, making it terminal. Doctors gave the six-time Olympic gold medallist an estimated two to four years to live.
The physical toll has been severe, with tumours found in his pelvis, hip, ribs, and spine. The cancer damaged his vertebrae so profoundly it caused a spinal fracture. "It burrowed into the vertebrae and caused it to fracture," Hoy explained.
In a cruel twist, just weeks later, his wife Sarra was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. Hoy said the consecutive blows felt like a final "kick in the teeth" for their family.
Living in the Present and a Campaign for Change
Despite the prognosis, Chris Hoy's perspective has shifted. He says the diagnosis has, in some ways, "improved his life" by forcing a focus on the present. He now finds joy in everyday moments and says the illness is no longer his first thought each morning. This philosophy extends to his activities; even while battling cancer, he continues to cycle, recently suffering his "worst-ever" crash and breaking his leg, but remains determined to "make hay while the sun shines."
Central to his efforts now is advocacy. Sir Chris is campaigning for an overhaul of prostate cancer screening, particularly for men over 45 with a family history, labelling the current system as "outdated." His going public has had an immediate impact, creating the "Hoy Effect"—the NHS reported a sevenfold increase in people seeking advice on prostate cancer symptoms, a response that has "deeply moved" the champion.
A Family's Resilience in the Face of Adversity
At the heart of the story is the family's united front. Chris has praised Sarra as an "incredible human being" who maintains a positive outlook. Sarra focuses on controlling what she can, refusing to let the family become "victims" of their circumstances.
One of their most agonising tasks was explaining the situation to their young children, Chloe and Callum. The children asked heartbreaking questions about whether their father would die. The couple worked to make their medical journey an evolving part of family life, with Chris telling the children they could help by giving cuddles and being kind.
Sir Chris considers himself "lucky" to have the time to say goodbye and appreciate his life. Together, he and Sarra are resolved to keep "cracking on," hoping their story of resilience provides inspiration to other families facing similar battles.
