Sporting giants and politicians lead the messages of strength and support to Sir Chris Hoy after the Olympian revealed he has terminal cancer.
The cycling legend, 48, announced he had chemotherapy in February this year after doctors discovered a tumour. Last night he revealed his cancer is terminal and he has a life expectancy of “two to four years”.
In a tragic twist, his wife Sarra Hoy, was diagnosed with a “very active and aggressive” type of multiple sclerosis around the same time. The couple who share two children, Callum, 10, and Chloe, 7, told the Sunday Times they feel lucky because, although their illnesses are incurable, they can still be treated.
Prime Minister Kier Starmer, First Minister John Swinney and Scotland legend Ally McCoist were among the first to lead public tributes to the Hoy Family.
Football legend Ally McCoist OBE sent his ‘love and strength’ adding that Hoy was a ‘superstar in every sense of the word.’
Cyclist Mark Cavendish said Sir Hoy was a ‘Hero of a human being’ after making his condition public.
Sir Keir Starmer told the Hoy Family the ‘whole country is behind them. He said: “Such sad news.
“Chris is a British sporting legend. To face his diagnosis with such positivity is inspiring.
“The whole country is behind him and his family.”
The First Minister John Swinney said: “I send every good wish to Sir Chris Hoy and his family.
“He has always inspired us by all that he has done.
“He is a person of incredible courage and that shines through today.””
Scottish para-cyclist Neil Fachie added: “Dealing with this in the way only Chris Hoy could. Always the inspiration. Lora and I are thinking of you all.”
Racing driver Mark Blundell said: “Sending love and strength Chris.”
Paddy McGuiness added: “Some man, Chris.”
Wes Streeting said he was “in awe” of Sir Chris Hoy after the Olympic cyclist revealed he had terminal cancer.
The Health Secretary, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “He’s such an inspirational guy, and I thought that was particularly true in the way that he has talked about his terminal cancer diagnosis today.
“I think to have two-to-four years potentially left to live and yet to maintain that optimism and positivity that has characterised his life and career is remarkable.”
He added: “I’m just in awe, actually, of how he is dealing with that, because I’m not sure how I would react in the same situation.”
Mr Streeting also urged anyone with symptoms of cancer to get checked, saying the disease “doesn’t have to be a death sentence in this country anymore”.
He said: “Regardless of the state of the NHS , and it really is in a truly awful state at the moment, don’t let that put you off going to seek care and treatment if you need it.”
“As unnatural as it feels, this is nature,” Hoy told The Sunday Times. “You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process.”
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