Sir Chris Hoy courage praised as he reveals terminal cancer

Sir Chris Hoy will co-host the World Track Championships on BBC Two this Sunday.

Sir Chris Hoy has received praise for being "uplifting" by sharing a "beautiful message of optimism" following the announcement of his terminal cancer diagnosis.

The six-time Olympic cycling champion recently spoke to the Sunday Times, revealing that doctors have informed him he has a life expectancy of two to four years.

Messages of support for Sir Chris have flooded in from athletes, politicians, and countless others on social media following his Instagram post on Sunday, where he expressed that he was "feeling fit, strong, and positive."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed that the entire nation supports the 48-year-old, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting admired the Scottish leader's bravery and optimism.

Sir Chris explained to the Sunday Times that he had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that had spread to his bones, indicating it was at stage four.

The famous athlete announced earlier this year that he had received a cancer diagnosis, but he hadn't shared what kind of cancer it was before now.

After the interview was released, the athlete shared on Instagram on Sunday that he was in Copenhagen with the BBC Sport crew, reporting on the World Track Cycling Championships.

This week, Sir Chris has been co-hosting the championships on BBC Two, with the coverage for day five starting on Sunday afternoon.

"This weekend, you might come across some news reports about my health, so I want to take a moment to reassure everyone that I’m feeling healthy, energetic, and optimistic. I truly appreciate all the love and support my family and I have received," he expressed in his post.

The post garnered numerous encouraging remarks, including one from fellow ex-Olympic cyclist Mark Cavendish, who described Sir Chris as a "hero of a person."

Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes expressed her support by saying, "Sending love your way, Chris." Meanwhile, the British Cycling account shared an emoji of two hands forming a heart.

"We all come into this world and eventually leave it, and that's simply how life works," Sir Chris shared with the Sunday Times.

You tell yourself how fortunate you are to have medication that can keep this at bay for as long as possible.

Sir Chris shared with the newspaper that he has been aware for a year that his cancer is incurable.

Tumors were found in his shoulder, pelvis, hip, spine, and ribs.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his admiration for Chris Hoy’s bravery and uplifting spirit.

Olympic medalist boxer Anthony Ogogo shared a photo of himself with Sir Chris on X, describing him as a "role model," an "inspiration," and a "hero."

James Cracknell, an Olympic rower representing Team GB, also joined the conversation on social media, expressing that Sir Chris is "even more inspiring today than he was throughout his remarkable sports career."

Scottish First Minister John Swinney commended Hoy for his "remarkable bravery" in a post on X, stating that he "has consistently motivated us through all of his achievements."

In an interview on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, Health Secretary Wes Streeting mentioned that Sir Chris isn't the only one facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. He acknowledged that Sir Chris has provided a significant benefit to the nation by sharing his experience candidly and maintaining an optimistic outlook.

"That's even more valuable than the collection of Olympic gold medals he has accumulated throughout his career," he continued.

The Olympian from Edinburgh found out he had cancer last year during a regular scan for shoulder discomfort. He initially believed he had hurt himself while weightlifting at the gym, but the scan showed a tumor instead.

The athlete was accompanied by his wife, Sarra, when he received the news about his terminal illness. At that time, they had two children, Callum and Chloe, who were nine and six years old, respectively.

Shortly before Sir Chris's tumor was found, Sarra had tests that later revealed she was suffering from multiple sclerosis, a progressive illness.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown remarked that bravery has been a hallmark of Sir Chris's career and now shapes the way both Chris and Sarra confront their health challenges and live their lives to the fullest.

In an interview with Stephen Nolan on BBC Radio 5 Live, Simon Richardson, the editor of Cycling Weekly, described Sir Chris as the perfect example of an Olympic champion.

Sir Chris, who first became interested in cycling after seeing the iconic BMX moments in the movie E.T., achieved an impressive record before his retirement, including six Olympic medals, 11 world championships, and 43 World Cup titles.

The cyclist initially claimed his first gold medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004. He went on to achieve three more golds at the 2008 Beijing Games. In 2012, he added two additional gold medals in London before concluding his cycling career in 2013.

His collection of six Olympic gold medals is the second largest ever achieved by a British athlete, trailing only Sir Jason Kenny’s seven medals.