Sir Chris Hoy’s finest moments as cycling legend reveals he has terminal cancer: From winning his first Olympic gold in 2004 by a thousandth of a second to being reduced to tears at his home Games after record-breaking victory

Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy has made the shock announcement that his cancer is incurable after first revealing he had the illness in February.

In an Instagram post eight months ago, the cyclist wrote: ‘I’m currently receiving treatment, including chemotherapy, which is thankfully going really well. I’m optimistic, positive … I currently feel fine. I am continuing to work, ride my bike and live my life as normal.’ 

By the Paris Olympics in July, Hoy seemed better and made regular appearances on television, giving his typically thoughtful insight into Team GB‘s performances in the Velodrome.

But, all the while, the Scot, 48, knew that his cancer was terminal, only choosing to disclose the diagnosis in an interview with the Sunday Times. 

In a career littered with memories that sports fans while cherish forever, Mail Sport goes through Hoy’s finest moments from a win against the odds 25 years ago to a glorious home Games.

Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy has made the shock announcement that his cancer is incurable after first revealing he had the illness in February

By the Paris Olympics in July, Hoy seemed better and made regular appearances on television

Cycling icon Hoy, pictured in August 2023, believes that he has ‘two to four years’ left to live

UCI Track Cycling World Championships 1999

Well before Hoy was a household name and success was expected in British cycling, something of a red letter day took place at the 1999 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Berlin in the team sprint.

Along with team-mates Craig MacLean and Jason Queally, the Scot took home an unlikely silver medal in the sprint. He would later follow it up with Commonwealth Games and World Championships success in 2002.

It ended up being the first of a host of medals in the World Championships and one of Hoy’s own favourite memories. 

‘I had this feeling of euphoria and disbelief,’ he said.

‘That the three of us [Craig MacLean and Jason Queally were his team-mates] could have a world championship silver medal, seemed incredible. It was the first British sprint medal since the Reg Harris era. 

‘There was a feeling that there may be possibilities beyond that, but I remember thinking: if I do nothing else, I can always say I won a world championship medal. It’s weird to think that now.’

Three years before he won gold for Scotland at the 2002 Commonwealth Games (pictured), Hoy nabbed silver at the 1999 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in the team sprint

A first Gold 

Team GB kicked on from their success in 1999 and won their first first world title at the Ballerup Velodrome, Copenhagen, in 2002.

It became an even sweeter tournament for Hoy when he won the one kilometre track time trial, pipping Arnaud Tournant by one thousandth of a second. 

The cyclist was to win an incredible 11 world championship golds in his career. 

Team GB kicked on from their success in 1999 and won their first first world title at the Ballerup Velodrome, Copenhagen, in 2002

Olympic Glory 

Of course, fans of the sport were familiar with Hoy by the time he landed in Athens in 2004, with the Scot having taken home team sprint silver in Sydney in 2000.

But his gold in the one kilometre title trial launched him into the national consciousness as he smashed the World and Olympic records.

He would later say: ‘The moment that meant most, and which I remember most vividly, was when I was waiting to step on to the top step of the podium and I heard my name followed by “Olympic champion.” ‘

Fans of the sport were familiar with Hoy by the time he landed in Athens in 2004 but his gold in the one kilometre title trial launched him into the national consciousness

Beijing Bonanza 

The man turned into a machine in China in 2008, as Hoy became the first British male Olympian in a century to win three Golds at the same Games.

All he seemed to have to do was turn up and a medal would soon be draped around his neck, and the cyclist clinched victory in the men’s keirin, the men’s team sprint and also the men’s individual sprint.

With Olympic fever rampant, Hoy went on to scoop up BBC Sports Personality of the Year, beating Lewis Hamilton who had just won the Formula One Drivers Championship.

The man turned into a machine in China in 2008, as Hoy became the first British male Olympian in a century to win three Golds at the same Games

All he seemed to have to do was turn up and a medal would soon be draped around his neck

Leading the team out in London 

One of the faces that will forever be associated with that golden fortnight in 2012, Hoy continued his good form into his home Games. 

He then backed up his assured display leading Team GB out at the Opening Ceremony in front of 80,000 fans by winning his fifth and sixth Olympic golds to become, at the time, Britain’s all-time leading Gold medal winner. 

Hoy has since been pipped by team-mate and friend Jason Kenny who he has described as one of his ‘toughest opponents’.

‘Jason, my young British team-mate and good friend, also became one of my toughest opponents,’ he said. ‘He never has any fear. He is never affected by pressure, never intimidated. 

‘The way he stepped into the team in Beijing was amazing.

One of the faces that will forever be associated with that golden fortnight in 2012, Hoy continued his good form into his home Games

A dramatic win in the keirin proved the highlight and even brought the Scot to tears

‘He took it in his stride and never fussed about anything. His attitude always seems to be that he has nothing to lose. And he is the same in any situation. He also has an incredible turn of speed and acceleration.’

A dramatic win in the keirin proved the highlight and even brought the Scot to tears.

Hoy has since described the victory as ‘an amazing way to finish it off’.