Chris Hoy, the iconic British Olympic cyclist, has shared his experience of living with terminal prostate cancer. At the age of 49 Hoy was the most successful British Olympian and the most decorated Olympic cyclist until 2021. Now, three years post diagnosis, he has much to say about his approach to living life. Yet his story is about more than struggle. It’s a tribute to resilience and finding joy in ordinary moments.
Hoy’s glamorous career saw him take gold medals at the Athens, Beijing and London Olympics and win 11 world championships. His record as the most successful Olympic cyclist was eclipsed by Jason Kenny, who secured his seventh Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games. As Hoy’s fortunes have been reversed, the fiery Scot has become something of an icon in the pro-cycling world. His hopeful vision remains a touchstone of inspiration for us all.
In February 2024, Hoy would experience his life-changing moment. His doctors announced his terminal cancer diagnosis shortly after the discovery of a tumor in his shoulder. He described the impact of this diagnosis on his life, stating, “I can’t believe the position I’m in now compared to 18 months ago.” His journey has been far from easy. From the unwavering support of his friends and family—and a renewed love and passion for cycling—he has found strength.
Embracing Life Amid Challenges
For Hoy, hearing the sunrise was a life-changing experience that helped him enjoy the small, everyday beauty around him. “I never imagined that I’d be able to get to this point where I’m actually just living life and not just living life, but actually appreciating it more than ever,” he remarked. His whole perspective on life is different post-diagnosis, enabling him to foreground joy over hopelessness.
Today, Hoy finds himself in what he terms a “stability stage” in his treatment. He was pleased to be back to feeling good and active, doing strength-training exercises and a lot of outdoor cycling, too. “I’m feeling good, exercising, riding the bike, busy and most importantly cancer is not the first thing I think about in the morning when I wake up and it’s not the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night,” he shared.
Hoy’s resolve to stay fit despite his challenges has become a touchstone and source of hope for millions in his position. He’s still doing what he can to raise awareness about cancer, fighting societal cancer and keeping his health and home life in harmony.
A Legacy of Achievement
Over the course of his career, Hoy has been on the cutting edge of Britain’s polemical sweep of track cycling. With 15 gold medals hanging around his neck, his influence on a new generation of aspiring athletes will be his ultimate legacy. Although he lost that title to Kenny in Olympic success just weeks ago, Hoy’s contributions to the sport are immeasurable.
Hoy not only achieved great success in athletics, but has made his literary mark with memoir. In it, he discusses his life journey, the good and the bad. This graphic novel is meant to encourage other people going through tough times to face their struggles with resiliency and creativity while appreciating the little things in life.
And as he waits for the next step to unfold in this exciting new chapter, Chris Hoy is still being an inspiration and appreciating life. Indeed, his journey is an inspiring tribute to the resilience of the human spirit against all odds.
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