Edinburgh, UK – June 04, 2025, 06:21 AM BST – Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cycling champion, is grappling with a silent struggle as he continues to conceal his terminal cancer diagnosis from his young children, Callum, 10, and Chloe, 7, nearly two years after learning he has stage 4 prostate cancer, sources close to the family reveal to The Guardian. The 49-year-old Scottish legend, who was told in October 2024 he has two to four years to live, has chosen to shield his kids from the devastating truth to preserve their innocence amidst his and his wife Sarra’s health battles.
Hoy first disclosed his diagnosis publicly in February 2024, revealing he was undergoing chemotherapy after shoulder pain led to the discovery of prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones, as reported by The Sunday Times. At the time, he hoped to keep it private for his family’s sake, but felt “forced” to share due to media pressure. Since then, Hoy has been a beacon of positivity, working as a BBC pundit at the Paris 2024 Olympics and launching initiatives like the Tour de 4 charity ride. However, behind closed doors, the father of two has made the heart-wrenching decision to keep his prognosis hidden from Callum and Chloe, even as he and Sarra—who was diagnosed with aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in November 2023—navigate their dual health crises.
A family friend told The Guardian, “Chris and Sarra haven’t told the kids about his cancer or her MS. They want Callum and Chloe to have a normal childhood for as long as possible.” This decision stems from Hoy’s fear of the emotional toll on his children, who were born in 2014 and 2017, respectively, with Callum arriving 11 weeks premature and spending nine weeks in hospital, a period Hoy described as “the hardest of our lives” in a 2020 interview. The couple’s protective stance contrasts with Hoy’s public openness, which has driven an eight-fold increase in NHS prostate cancer symptom searches since his October 2024 announcement, per BBC Sport.
Hoy’s choice to hide his diagnosis has sparked debate among fans on social media, with some praising his protective instinct—“Chris is giving his kids a chance to just be kids,” one X user wrote under #ChrisHoyFamily—while others worry about the long-term impact, noting, “They’ll find out eventually—it might be harder later.” Colleagues like Sir Mark Cavendish, who called Hoy a “hero of a human being” in October 2024, continue to support him, with Cavendish recently saying on X, “Chris’s strength is unreal—whatever he decides for his family, I back him.” The Hoy family’s silence on Sarra’s MS, which she initially kept from Chris until December 2023 to support him through his diagnosis, adds another layer of complexity, as reported by Mirror Online.
Despite his prognosis, Hoy remains active, recently attending the World Darts Championship in December 2024 to promote prostate cancer awareness, per Sky News. With a net worth of £50 million from his cycling career and endorsements, Hoy has the means to ensure his family’s future, but his focus is on creating joyful memories—like a recent trip to Wales in his dream car, as noted by Wales Online. As Hoy battles silently for his children’s peace, his struggle underscores the personal cost of his public courage, leaving the UK to admire a champion whose toughest race is fought out of the spotlight.