Chris Hoy, cycling legend and winner of six Olympic gold medals, has confessed in an interview with Sunday Times who suffers from terminal cancer and that specialists have given him two to four years to live.
Today he assured that despite his diagnosis, he feels “very lucky”: “You know, we are all born and we die, and this is just part of the process. Remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there are medications? can take to avoid this for as long as possible.
Last September, Hoy went to the specialist for some discomfort in his shoulder, which turned out to be a tumor, although he later learned that it was the extended metastasis for the body that had caused prostate cancer.
In February he made public that he was suffering from cancer, although at that time he did not reveal that it was a terminal illness and simply said that the treatment with chemotherapy was working well. His grandfather and father also suffered from prostate cancer.
“One in four may suffer from a terrible statistic, but for me It’s like one in four,” stated the ex-cyclist.
Winner of six Olympic gold medals in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Games, Today he is the second most successful athlete in British Olympics, only after fellow cyclist Jason Kenny, and one of the most loved and admired athletes in the United Kingdom.
The importance of mental health
“Most of my battle with cancer has not been physical, it has been in my head,” he confessed in the interview. Likewise, the former cyclist is now publishing his memoirs, under the title ‘All that matters: My toughest race yet’, in which he also reveals that his wife, Sarra recently suffered a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
Furthermore, he highlights that he has managed to come to terms with his illness better thanks to the psychological help he has received, and now he intends to help with his book to those who go through the same thing.
“With my heart on my sleeve, I’m pretty positive most of the time and feel genuine happiness. This is bigger than the Olympics, it’s bigger than anything. It’s about appreciating life and finding joy,” says the athlete, who has not stopped cycling almost every day since receiving the diagnosis.
