Sir Chris Hoy, Britain's second most decorated Olympian, has revealed that a key symptom of his prostate cancer was dismissed as a sign of aging. The six-time gold medalist, now living with stage 4 cancer, shared his story to raise awareness about the disease.
Diagnosis and Current Status
Hoy was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in September 2023 and publicly announced it in 2024. In October 2024, he disclosed that the cancer had spread to his bones and was incurable. Doctors have given him an estimated two to four years to live.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, Hoy said he remains active and positive. 'I'm only 20 per cent less fit than before cancer,' he stated. He added that many people offer sympathy, but 'everyone's in the same situation. We only have a set amount of time, everybody. It's just that my deadline's been brought forward a little bit.'
Warning Signs Ignored
In his documentary Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me, the cyclist recalled how he dismissed a key symptom. 'It was the summer of 2023, I had a pain in my shoulder and just assumed it was a sign of getting older. Aches and pains, as you expect,' he said.
He saw a doctor late one night and was told: 'I'm really sorry, it's prostate cancer, and it's incurable.'
Prostate Cancer: Symptoms to Watch
According to the NHS, prostate cancer often has no early symptoms. As it grows, it may affect urination, causing:
- Difficulty starting or straining to pee
- Weak urine flow
- Stop-start urination
- Urgent or frequent need to pee
- Feeling of incomplete emptying
- Nighttime urination
Other symptoms include erectile dysfunction, blood in urine or semen, lower back pain, and unexplained weight loss (advanced cancer signs).
Cancer Research UK notes that most prostate cancers grow slowly and are unlikely to spread, but some can be aggressive.
Tour de 4: A Mission of Hope
Hoy founded Tour de 4 to show that a stage 4 cancer diagnosis does not limit what people can achieve. The event brings together those affected by cancer to change perceptions and raise funds.
Tour de 4 2026 takes place on September 6, 2026, in Glasgow, following the 2025 event which raised over £3 million. Registration is now open.
