The six-time Olympic gold medallist was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2024 and was told he had between two and four years left to live
Sir Chris Hoy marked his 49th birthday amid his ongoing battle with advanced prostate cancer that has metastasised to his bones and is terminal.
The cycling icon was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2024 and was given a prognosis of two to four years. He chronicled his life experiences, including his cancer treatment and the wisdom he’s gained, in a bestselling book published last year.
Sarra Hoy, Chris’ wife, took to social media to share snapshots of her husband’s birthday festivities. In a shared post with Chris, she expressed: “What a birthday! Huge thanks to @cheftomkerridge and the entire team @handfmarlow for making @chrishoy1’s birthday so memorable!
“Exquisite food, excellent wine, made all the more special by the addition of @sirsteveredgrave who popped in to say hi – on his birthday too!”
Redgrave, a retired British rower who clinched gold at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000, also celebrated his birthday on the same day.
Chris and Sarra have been married since 2010, when they exchanged vows at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. They are parents to two children, son Callum born in 2014 and daughter Chloe, born in 2017, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The family has faced challenging times following Chris’ cancer diagnosis.
Sarra is battling an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis, a condition she was made aware of shortly after her husband received news that his illness had progressed to stage four. In a passage from his latest book, ‘All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet’, Hoy reveals their shared uncertainty: “The future is a great unknown for us both now.”
He describes the instability that plagues their life: “There are moments where everything becomes unsteady and life feels too precarious, especially if we think too much about the future and the kids. Will we be around to care for our kids, will they be OK? Sarra’s treatment can only do so much and her condition is degenerative.”
Yet he also speaks about resilience and finding strength: “But we find our way back from the pitfall of trying to predict the future. Sarra has found a characteristically courageous way to frame our situation, something we both come back to and feel grounded by.”
Despite grappling with these serious health issues, the couple maintains an optimistic outlook. When Sarra uploaded a birthday celebration selfie with Chris, it was met with heartening support from well-wishers.
Celebrities joined in offering their best wishes; Paddy McGuinness commented “Happy Birthday to the gaffer!”, while broadcaster Gabby Logan chimed in with “happy birthday – why are you not coming here for breakfast?”
Fans equally expressed their adoration: “What a fabulous photo of our two great knights! The other photos look great too!” and another conveyed their enthusiasm for the festivities, posting “Happy birthday @chrishoy1 – that food looks incredible! ! Hope it’s been a good day for you both.”
Supportive messages kept pouring in, with one saying, “Happy Birthday Chris, hope you had an amazing time celebrating with Sarra and the kids” and another exclaiming, “Fabulous! ! Sounds and looks like the best day. Happy Birthday @chrishoy1!”
The couple’s bond inspired many, as one admirer posted, “Happy Birthday! You two are such an amazing couple …inspiring in many ways” while another echoed the sentiment, writing, “You deserve it all! ! ! ! !”
