Inside Chris Hoy’s family life with wife Sarra and adorable kids – as Olympic star reveals shock cancer diagnosis
SIR Chris Hoy’s family have bravely stood by his side as the star revealed he is battling with cancer.
The Olympic legend, 47, who won six gold medals for Team GB in an esteemed career in track cycling, posted on social media to announce his diagnosis yesterday evening.
Sir Chris declared he had hoped to keep his illness private until his “hand was forced”.
The 11-time world champion revealed he was handed the shock diagnosis last year – despite him having no symptoms.
The legendary athlete has a strong family support network who have been a big part of his life for years.
And Sir Chris has always praised his wife of 14 years for being by his side – on and off the track.
In 2012, after winning gold at London’s velodrome, he said: “Sarra has been the one that has really got me through it all.”
In a TV interview watched by millions, just one year before he retired, the Olympian said: “It is fantastic when you step off the track and the final product is a gold medal.
“It looks like it has never been in doubt, which was not the case with the keirin. To see the performances, you think it must always be good but it is anything but.
“There were troughs and dips in the past four years and she has been there the whole way – never complained and never moaned or become frustrated with cycling because that has been put first over everything.
“When I saw her at the end, and was able to give her a big hug and a kiss, I realised we have done it and gone through it.”
The pair have two children – Callum and Chloe.
Sir Chris and Sarra have always been open about the struggles they went through with the children, who were both born prematurely.
Sir Chris Hoy Statement
The Scottish Olympian bravely wrote in a statement:
I have a bit of news.
Last year I was diagnosed with cancer, which came as a huge shock, having had no symptoms up to that point.
I’m currently receiving treatment including chemotherapy, which thankfully is going really well.
I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals for their amazing help and care.
For the sake of my young family, I had hoped to keep this information private but regrettably our hand has been forced.
Whilst I’m thankful for any support, I’d like to deal with this privately.
Son Callum was born 11 weeks early in 2014, with Sarra revealing the trauma that still plagues her.
She told the Yorkshire Post in 2021: “It was 24 hours before I even saw him.
“It was four days before I could hold him and it was like holding a frail baby bird. It was terrifying.
“You are separated from your baby by this huge plastic box and they are covered in wires and tubes.
“They look so fragile you are worried that you will hurt them.”
Back in 2017, Sir Chris shared a touching clip of his then two-year-old son riding a bike.
He posted the video of Callum confidently racing across his back garden on Instagram.
The toddler, who was born 11 weeks early in October 2014, also happily posed for a picture on his own Hoy branded bike – proving he is already following in his dad’s footsteps.
The couple’s daughter Chloe was also born premature – about three weeks early.
Sarra said: “No one prepares you for having a preterm baby, it is knowing what you can contribute.
“I was encouraged to touch Callum, but you are scared because they look so fragile.”
Hoy is regarded by many to be one of Britain’s greatest ever athletes thanks to his World Championships and Olympic medal hauls.
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 The Guardian 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.
The Edinburgh speedster is an eleven-time world champion and six-time Olympic world champion.
His incredible haul of Gold medals – three of which he won at the 2008 Games in Beijing – made him the second-most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time.
He began cycling at the age of six after he was inspired by the 1982 film ET.
In recent years Hoy has been a regular pundit and commentator as part of BBC Sport’s cycling coverage.
British Cycling said on X, formerly Twitter: “Everyone at British Cycling sends their love and best wishes to you and your family, Chris. You got this.”
