Sir Chris Hoy celebrated his birthday yesterday as he turned 49. The Olympic cycling champions is battling advanced prostate cancer that has spread to his bones and is terminal.
The cycling legend was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2024 and was told he had between two and four years left to live. He shared his life experiences a bestselling book last year, which describes his cancer treatment and the lessons he has learned throughout his life.
Chris’ wife, Sarra Hoy took to social media yesterday to share photos of her husband’s birthday celebrations. In a joint post with Chris, she wrote: “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!” Sir Steve Redgrave is a British retired rower who won gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000.
Chris and Sarra have been married since 2010, where they tied the knot in a ceremony at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. They share two children, son Callum born in 2014 and daughter Chloe, born in 2017. It has been a difficult few years for the family with Chris’ cancer diagnosis.
Sarra also has an aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis, a diagnosis she was informed of shortly after doctors told her husband that his disease had worsened to stage four. In an extract from his new book, All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet, Chris wrote: “The future is a great unknown for us both now.
“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.
“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.”
The couple are remaining positive despite their illnesses. A selfie of the two shared alongside the birthday message by Sarra was met with a wave of positivity by fans and friends.
Paddy McGuinness wrote “Happy Birthday to the gaffer!” and TV presenter Gabby Logan added “happy birthday – why are you not coming here for breakfast?”
Others wrote: “What a fabulous photo of our two great knights! The other photos look great too!” and “Happy birthday @chrishoy1 – that food looks incredible!! Hope it’s been a good day for you both.”
The messages of support continued with “Happy Birthday Chris, hope you had an amazing time celebrating with Sarra and the kids” and “Fabulous!! Sounds and looks like the best day. Happy Birthday @chrishoy1!!”
Many were inspired by the husband and wife with one fan writing “Happy Birthday! You two are such an amazing couple …inspiring in many ways” and another sharing the same sentiment with “You deserve it all!!!!!”