Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic gold medallist, has revealed he has terminal cancer.

The 48-year-old cycling legend has been told by doctors that he has just two to four years left to live.

Hoy first announced in February that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, but said he was ‘optimistic’ and then worked as a BBC pundit at the Paris Olympics in the summer.

However, the father of two has now admitted he has known for a year that his illness is terminal.

The Scot originally went to the doctor in September 2023 for a suspected shoulder strain, only to discover he had a tumour in his shoulder.

A further scan found that the primary cancer was in his prostate and had spread to his bones.

‘We were all born and we all die and this is just part of the process,’ Hoy told The Sunday Times.

‘But aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.’

In a statement published to Instagram in February, Hoy described himself as ‘optimistic’ and ‘positive’.

However, in his announcement this week he admitted that he knew even back then that his cancer was incurable.

Despite this, Hoy – who won six Olympic gold medals for Team GB between 2004 and 2012 – insists that he still feels ‘lucky’.

Hoy married wife Sarra in 2010 and they have two children together.

Both children were born prematurely. Son Callum was 11 weeks early in 2014, before daughter Chloe arrived four weeks ahead of schedule.

Against the odds, Callum and Chloe are now both perfectly healthy.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of their parents. In addition to Hoy’s cancer, Sarra has multiple sclerosis.

‘I still feel like we’re lucky,’ said Hoy in his brave interview.

He added: ‘As unnatural as it feels, this is nature.’

Hoy said that he had told his children that no-one lives forever but defiantly proclaimed that he hoped to ‘be here for many, many more years’. 

Hoy was knighted in 2008 while he was still an active athlete.

His royal recognition came shortly after he became the first British male Olympian in 100 years to win three gold medals at one Games.

Hoy – who won his first Olympic gold in 2004 – added two more at London 2012 before announcing his retirement from cycling in 2013.

Despite his diagnosis, Hoy remains very active.

Earlier this month, he took part in a Peligoni’s wellness week event as part of PACE October that involved seven bike rides over five days in Greece.