Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic cycling champion and one of Britain’s most decorated athletes, has opened up about one of the most personal and difficult moments in his ongoing health battle. Speaking candidly on the Mid Point podcast, Hoy revealed how being told he could no longer lift his young daughter due to a spinal fracture became a defining moment in his experience with cancer.
Diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, Sir Chris has faced the reality of a terminal illness with remarkable courage. Yet even for someone known for his mental and physical strength, some moments have proven deeply challenging. One such moment came when doctors discovered fractures in his spine caused by secondary tumours that had spread to his bones.
“When they saw the scans, the doctors immediately said, ‘You can’t lift anything – not even your kids,’” he shared. “That was horrendous. It wasn’t just about the physical act – it was symbolic. It made me realise this illness wasn’t something I could ignore or push through. It was altering how I lived, how I parented, and how I connected with my children.”
That limitation hit hardest with his six-year-old daughter, Chloe. For any parent, carrying a child can be a comforting, instinctive gesture. For Hoy, being told that wasn’t safe anymore was heartbreaking.
Fortunately, a medical procedure offered some relief. Doctors performed a technique in which a cement-like material is injected into the damaged vertebrae to help stabilise it. “They drill into the spine, inject the substance, and once it sets, it reinforces the structure,” he explained. “It was incredibly effective. I’ve since regained enough mobility to lift weights again — and more importantly, to hold my daughter.”
Now 48, Hoy says the experience has reshaped his perspective on everyday life. “When something so normal is taken away — and then even partially returned — you’re suddenly more aware of how precious the ordinary can be,” he said. “It’s like losing your wallet and finding it again. You’re not just relieved, you’re grateful.”
Beyond the physical toll, Hoy also spoke about the emotional weight of telling his children — Callum and Chloe — about his diagnosis. He and his wife, Sarra, spent time thinking carefully about how to approach the conversation with honesty and gentleness.
“Our biggest concern wasn’t ourselves. It was how we’d tell the kids,” Hoy shared. “We didn’t want it to be a heavy, scary moment. So we didn’t sit them down formally. We just talked in the kitchen, casually, but clearly. We tried to keep the tone warm and positive.”
Hoy smiled as he recalled his son Callum’s immediate and innocent reaction. “He was mostly worried I’d be bald by the end of the day. He thought I’d drop him off at school with hair and pick him up without it,” he laughed. “That sense of humour, that lightness – it really helped us.”
Despite facing a prognosis of two to four years, Hoy continues to move forward with strength, optimism, and an appreciation for what each day brings. He is still training, spending quality time with family, and using his platform to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
Hoy’s willingness to speak so openly — not only about his physical symptoms, but about the emotions, the parenting challenges, and the small, human moments — gives others facing similar struggles a rare and powerful gift: understanding, connection, and hope.
“I’ve always believed in facing things head-on,” he said. “And while I can’t change the diagnosis, I can still choose how I respond to it.”
In a time when resilience is often romanticised, Sir Chris Hoy reminds us that true strength isn’t about never being shaken — it’s about what you hold onto when life demands more than you thought you could give.