Sir Chris Hoy: Hero Whose Courage With Terminal Cancer Inspires the Nation | Pride of Scotland 2025

One of Britain’s all-time greatest sporting heroes, whose courage and dignity in the face of terminal cancer have inspired the nation

From the moment he was inspired to ride a bike aged six, after seeing the flying BMX scene in ET, it was clear Chris Hoy had talent. Within a year he was winning BMX races, eventually becoming one of the top teenage riders in Europe.

Switching to track cycling, he was tipped for a glittering future by coaches, and he fulfilled their predictions with a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. It was the start of a medal-laden, record-breaking run of success, as he helped to transform the British cycling team from also-rans to a sporting powerhouse.

He won Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, and four years later in Beijing, became the first British man to win three golds at a single Olympic Games in more than a century. Two more golds at London 2012 saw him become Britain’s most decorated Olympian of all time.

But there was much more than simple natural talent behind his extraordinary success. Staying at the top of one of the most gruelling, physically demanding sports for more than a decade required unbelievable reserves of determination, courage, grit and inner strength. These have all been qualities that he has relied on once again, following his terminal cancer diagnosis. And alongside that strength there has been a truly inspirational degree of optimism and positivity, that has shone like a beacon of hope.

“You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process,” he said. “You remind yourself, aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible.”

Sir Chris Hoy may have achieved greatness on the cycle track, but he has demonstrated that greatness every day since. He is truly Scotland’s Champion.

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