DOUBLE BLOW
Sir Chris Hoy’s wife diagnosed with incurable MS as Olympic hero reveals ‘terminal’ cancer
Sarra's diagnosis came just weeks before the Scots cyclist was told he had up to four years left to live
SIR Chris Hoy revealed his wife has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as the Scots Olympic legend announced his cancer is terminal.
Just weeks before the Scots cyclist was told he had up to four years left to live, Hoy's wife Sarra, 44, was diagnosed with incurable MS.
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Faced with the shock news, the couple admitted they have not yet told their two children, aged seven and 10, about Sarra's diagnosis.
Sir Chris told The Sunday Times: “I never want to lie to them. But there are certain things you don’t need to tell them straight away.”
However, the young kids have been made aware of the full extent of their father's illness.
Sir Chris revealed he tells them “Daddy will get more treatment and we will deal with it as it comes.”
For Sarra's treatment, Hoy also told of how the couple were given a choice between a lower-risk but less effective treatment and a riskier but more effective option.
They opted for the low-risk course of action.
MS is a degenerative and incurable disease.
It can affect the brain or spinal cord and impair vision and movement.
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The cycling legend explained that on a bad day, his wife can struggle to complete simple everyday tasks like fitting a key in the door.
But he says she "loves running" and gym classes and stays positive by refusing to pay heed to her condition.
Duncan Scott: Scotland's Most Decorated Olympian
Hoy added: “She says all the time, ‘How lucky are we? We both have incurable illnesses for which there is some treatment. Not every disease has that. It could be a lot worse.’ ”
This news comes as the Scots cycling hero revealed his cancer is terminal.
The six-time Olympic champion, 48, announced back in February that he was battling the disease.
But Sir Chris knew back then that his cancer was terminal.
A tumour was found in his shoulder last year and a scan later found the primary cancer in his prostate.
Now, the prostate cancer has metastasised to his bones.
Looking back on Sir Chris Hoy's career
- Track Cycling Dominance: Sir Chris Hoy is one of Britain's most successful track cyclists, known for his exceptional prowess in sprint events.
- Olympic Gold Medals: Hoy has won a total of six Olympic gold medals, making him the most successful British Olympian in terms of golds.
- First Olympic Success: He won his first Olympic gold medal in the 1 km time trial at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
- Triple Gold in Beijing: At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hoy made history by winning three gold medals in the team sprint, individual sprint, and keirin events.
- London 2012 Triumph: Hoy added two more gold medals to his tally at the 2012 London Olympics in the team sprint and keirin, bringing his total Olympic golds to six.
- World Championships: Hoy has also been a dominant force at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, securing 11 world titles over his career.
- Keirin Specialisation: Hoy is particularly renowned for his skill in the keirin, a track cycling event originating from Japan.
- Retirement: Hoy announced his retirement from competitive cycling in April 2013, ending a glittering career that spanned over a decade.
- Knighthood: In recognition of his services to cycling, Hoy was knighted in 2009, becoming Sir Chris Hoy.
- Post-Retirement Ventures: After retiring, Hoy has been involved in various ventures, including motorsport, media work, and promoting cycling and healthy living.
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