Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cycling champion, has offered a glimpse into his family’s unwavering resilience as both he and his wife, Sarra, grapple with devastating health diagnoses. Known for his track triumphs and gold medals, Hoy is now facing the most testing time of his life after being told his cancer is terminal, with doctors giving him just two to four years left to live. Yet, it’s the collective strength and selflessness within his household that truly stands out.
In 2023, Hoy received the shattering news that primary cancer had developed in his prostate and had spread to his bones, including his shoulder, pelvis, ribs and spine. Around the same period, in a cruel twist of fate, Sarra was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disorder that attacks the brain and spinal cord, shortly after undergoing a scan for some unexplained symptoms.
Amidst this double blow, the couple’s focus immediately shifted to their two young children — Callum, aged ten, and Chloe, aged seven. Speaking candidly about the challenges his family have faced, Sir Chris has repeatedly highlighted the “waking nightmare” of trying to protect his children from the harsh realities that have hit their home.
While Callum and Chloe have been told of their father’s illness, the parents have deliberately chosen to shield their children from the knowledge of Sarra’s condition. Hoy explained that Sarra herself was initially so determined not to add to the family’s burden that she kept her own diagnosis secret from her husband for over a month, hoping to protect him as he navigated the early stages of his cancer battle.
Reflecting in an interview with The Times, Hoy described the family’s current approach as finding balance in the face of adversity. “Touch wood, it doesn’t feel as though they’ve been massively affected by it,” Hoy said regarding the impact on the children. He acknowledged their curiosity when strangers approach him, but noted that cancer has simply become “part of our lives” and isn’t something that his children dwell upon or fear.
Sarra, meanwhile, remains steadfast in her resolve not to let MS take centre stage in their lives. “She’s just determined to try and not allow it to get its feet under the table. It fluctuates, so she gets good days and bad days. When things are tougher, she never complains or asks for sympathy,” Sir Chris revealed, painting a picture of quiet fortitude.
From the children’s perspective, their mother’s health struggle is disguised as “sore hands,” which Sarra feels is more than enough information for the time being. “She doesn’t want the focus,” said Sir Chris. “If it wasn’t for my diagnosis, I think it would be getting a lot more attention, but she likes it that way. She just wants to crack on.”
In his memoirs, Hoy recounts the distressing evening when Sarra finally shared her own diagnosis, recalling her emotional struggle to get the words out and his devastation, not only for her suffering but because she had carried the burden alone in order to shield him. His tribute to Sarra as “the epitome of selflessness” is heartfelt, noting how she has consistently put the needs of their children and himself first, all without asking for recognition or support in return.
For Sir Chris, the reality of terminal cancer has shifted his perspective on parenthood. He described an initial urge “never to say ‘no’ again” to his children, hoping they would remember him as the “perfect father”. Yet, as time has passed, the Hoy family has persisted with their familiar routines, steadfast in their intent to embrace the everyday rather than exist in limbo.
Despite the uncertainty that looms over their future, both Sir Chris and Sarra remain focused on what matters most: maintaining stability, love and support for their children. As they chart a course through unimaginable challenges, their story is a powerful example of quiet dignity and the enduring strength of family.