'It was the biggest shock of my life' — Chris Hoy on how he has been dealing with his terminal cancer diagnosis

has finally opened up about the horor feeling and the toughest year he and his family have been subjected to after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The six-time cyclist gold medalist said the news came as a shock with no prior symptoms. Hoy, who is the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time with a total of seven medals, shared in February that he was undergoing chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis.

The athletics governing body has also developed significant expertise in assessing and mitigating environmental stressors.

However, last month, he revealed the devastating prognosis that he had only two to four years to live. The 48-year-old attended the 2024 and fulfilled media duties despite his condition.

The 11-time world champion took his wife Sarra and their two children abroad in October, in a bid to escape the media spotlight, hoping the attention would have subsided upon their return. Now, in his first TV interview since the news broke, Hoy has shared more of his story. «No symptoms, no warnings, nothing,» he told the BBC.

The continental showpiece is set to take place in Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties from October 9-13.

«All I had was a pain in my shoulder and a little bit of pain in my ribs. This ache and pain didn’t go away. I assumed it was going to be tendonitis or something, and it was just going to be to lay off weights or lay off cycling for a while and get some treatment and it’ll be fine,» he painfully narrated.

«It was the biggest shock of my life,» he added. In his confession, he remembered the scan that revealed a tumor but his biggest worry was how he was going to open up to this wife and the kids. «I remember the feeling of just absolute horror and shock. I just basically walked back in a daze. I couldn’t believe the news and I was just trying to process it. I don’t remember walking. And then I was thinking how am I going to tell Sarra?'»