Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic cycling champion, has shared one of the most heartbreaking moments of his cancer journey—being told he could no longer lift his six-year-old daughter, Chloe. Hoy, who is battling terminal stage four prostate cancer, revealed that secondary tumors had spread to his spine, causing fractures and drastically changing his daily life.
Speaking on the Mid Point podcast, Hoy recalled the moment doctors reviewed his scans and delivered the devastating instruction: “You can’t lift anything—not even your kids.” For Hoy, that was when the reality of his illness truly sank in. He described it as a horrendous moment that forced him to confront how much his condition would impact not just his health, but his role as a father.
To address the damage to his spine, doctors performed a procedure known as vertebroplasty, where a cement-like substance is injected into the fractured vertebrae. Hoy explained the treatment as a method of drilling into the spine and filling the bone to stabilize it. Thankfully, the procedure helped him regain strength and mobility, and he’s now able to lift weights again.
Hoy said the experience gave him a new appreciation for life’s small moments. “When something’s taken away from you, even briefly, you realise just how valuable it is,” he reflected, comparing it to the feeling of losing and then finding a wallet. The scare helped him recognize how often people take daily physical abilities for granted.
One of the most emotional challenges, Hoy admitted, was breaking the news to his children, Callum and Chloe. He and his wife Sarra decided to avoid a formal, dramatic conversation and instead told them casually in the kitchen. Their aim was to keep things light and avoid instilling fear, even in the face of difficult news.
Hoy recounted with a smile that his son Callum’s biggest concern was whether his dad would suddenly go bald. Despite the grim prognosis—doctors have given him two to four years—Hoy remains grounded, grateful, and focused on making the most of his time with family. His story is one of courage, love, and the enduring power of perspective.
