HERO'S BATTLE
Sir Chris Hoy gives health update in terminal cancer fight and candidly opens up on moment he had to ‘reset’
He recently raced another cycling star
SIR CHRIS HOY has given a health update in his battle with terminal cancer, which has caused him to "reset".
The Olympic cycling legend revealed in October that his prostate cancer is terminal.
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Hoy, 49, was given just two years to live by doctors, but has approached his condition with inspiring positivity.
He has insisted that he is keen to enjoy his remaining time but has been forced to realise his body is not what it once was.
Hoy revealed that during a bike ride, he made the realisation that he could not do what he was used to and has had to "reset".
The ride was in May last year in Greece, which was just two months post-chemotherapy.
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He told : "You want to be able to enjoy it, and not just suffer and struggle.
"But it’s very hilly there and we rode for half an hour uphill from the start and it was obvious to myself that my physical level wasn’t where it was before.
"I wasn’t able to ride and talk going up the hill, and I found it difficult.
"That was the point where I really understood: I’ve got to reset here and not compare myself to where I used to be."
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Hoy admitted that he could have just "throttled back" and been comfortable but still has his competitive spirit.
He has still been riding and even took on Mark Cavendish and Russell Downing, along with former pros, at a Zwift event in Majorca earlier this month.
Incredible moment emotional Sir Chris Hoy delivers ball at Scotland v Ireland to rousing reception amid cancer battle
How Chris Hoy went from lad on £5 bike inspired by ET to 6-time Olympic champion
By Jonathan Rose
SIR Chris Hoy began cycling at the age of six after he was inspired by the 1982 film ET.
Before he moved on to track cycling, he rode a BMX bike until the age of 15.
Sir Chris was ranked second in Britain, fifth in Europe and ninth in the World.
His dad picked up a £5 bike from a jumble sale - four years later Sir Chris was competing in the semi-final of a BMX world championship race.
"I was six when I saw ET," he told in 2020. "It changed my life. I wasn't interested in cycling at all before."
"The bikes I'd seen in Edinburgh just seemed functional things for getting from A to B," continued Hoy, who grew up in Murrayfield.
"Then I saw those BMX bikes on screen and I was hooked. It wasn't the scene where they cycle across the sky, but when they get chased by the police and they're doing jumps and skidding round corners.
"It was the most exciting thing I'd ever seen. I wanted to do that."
Four years later he became part of the British national squad.
A world championship medal came in 1999 with silver in the team sprint.
Sir Chris went on to become the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time
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However, he did admit to having his "arse kicked" in the event.
Since his diagnosis, Hoy has made multiple appearances to raise awareness.
He gave a rousing speech at the BBC Sport Personality of the Year Awards in December.
He also presented darts sensation Luke Littler with the Ballon d’Art trophy in January.
Hoy's wife Sarra bravely opened up about the struggles in March during an interview with ITV's Loraine.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis shortly after Hoy's announcement.
She said: "You just don't sleep, everything is awful.
"It was about trying to control what I could, and I just thought, I can't do anything about cancer, I can't do anything about MS [Multiple Sclerosis], I can't control any of that.
"What can I do? What can I help? What can I change?"
Hoy made his Olympic debut in the 2000 Sydney Games and went on to appear for Team GB at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 games.
He won gold medals in the team sprint in 2008 and 2012 in the team sprint event.
He also won world championship titles in the 1km time trial and team sprint during his career.
He retired from competitive cycling in April 2013 and took pride in transforming the sport.
Hoy has also insisted that he is trying not to worry about the future and is not "dwelling" on his prognosis.
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He added: "Cancer has taught me to try to not worry about the future.
"When you feel fear or stress, it’s all about trying to predict the future, and you may be wasting time worrying about the wrong thing entirely, and it’s only going to spoil your life at the moment."
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include:
- needing to pee more frequently, often during the night
- needing to rush to the toilet
- difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)
- straining or taking a long time while peeing
- weak flow
- feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- blood in urine or blood in semen
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