Olympic legend, wife suffer double tragedy as news hidden from children

After dropping heartbreaking news about his terminal diagnosis, Sir Chris Hoy has gone public with his family’s second secret tragedy.

Sir Chris Hoy and his brave wife Sarra have decided not to tell their kids about her incurable multiple sclerosis diagnosis as the family face a double tragedy.

The strong couple already had to break it to children Callum, 10, and Chloe, 7, that their hero dad had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The Olympic cycling legend went public with his health battle this week, announcing doctors have given him just 2-4 years to live.

The six-time Olympic champion said in February he was first diagnosed last year and had begun treatment following the cancer diagnosis.

He only this week revealed the extent of his condition.

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He earlier revealed the gut-wrenching circumstances in which he had to inform his kids of the news. The 48-year-old described the dinner conversation at the start of the year as the “hardest thing I’ve ever done”.

And in an attempt to shield their children, Hoy and Sarra are keeping her health battles to themselves, The Sun reports.

Sarra is undergoing low-risk, less effective treatments for her condition instead of more potentially effective, but riskier, new treatments, it is reported.

Sir Chris Hoy and wife Sarra Kemp. AAP Image/Joe Castro.

Sir Chris Hoy gets a hug of his wife Lady Sarra as mum Carol and dad David look on.

Within the space of three months, the Hoy family were dealt two shocking blows.

In September 2023, a doctor delivered the awful news to Hoy that he had Stage 4 cancer.

What was first diagnosed as a tumour in his shoulder, the primary cancer was located in his prostate.

The prostate cancer had metastasised to his bones, pelvis, hip, spine, shoulder and rib.

Medics have given Hoy two to four years to live.

The 40-year-old mum-of-two was then diagnosed with a “very reactive and aggressive” type of MS just before Christmas that same year.

Sarra’s condition was spotted when she went for a scan after experiencing a tingling sensation in her face and tongue.

Now, some days are worse than others — with Sarra struggling to fit the key in the door at times.

He said his wife “loves running” and gym classes and stays positive by refusing to pay heed to her condition.

Hoy celebrating a gold medal win during the London Olympics.

“She says all the time, How lucky are we? We both have incurable illnesses for which there is some treatment,” he said.

“Not every disease has that. It could be a lot worse.”

The Sunday Times has now revealed more details about Hoy’s memoir, with the athlete saying it was learning about his wife’s MS diagnosis when he hit “rock bottom”.

“It’s the closest I’ve come to, like, you know, ‘Why me? Just, what? What’s going on here?’ It didn’t seem real,” he said.

“It was such a huge blow, when you’re already reeling. You think nothing could possibly get worse. You literally feel like you’re at rock bottom, and you find out, oh no, you’ve got further to fall. It was brutal.”

Hoy recalled telling his children that no one lives forever but he hopes to “be here for many, many more years”.

And recording the audio version of his memoir, ‘All that Matters: My Toughest Race Yet’, was even more traumatic, he told BBC.

He said: “The last chapter is basically where I’m writing to the kids. You know my message to them. You know, my final message to them.

“[You’re] reading the words out loud, you have to connect emotionally.

Hoy was given only years to live. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

Hoy getting emotional after winning gold. John Giles/PA Wire.

“You’ve got to actually read in a way that means something. But the risk is getting too close to it - because you’re suddenly thinking, these are the words that my kids will listen to when I’m gone.

“And that is, without doubt, the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

One additional measure to protect the kids about the double tragedy was to organise a “two-week, half-term family holiday” while the dust begins to settle on the family’s tragic news.

Hoy began chemotherapy in November, wearing an extremely painful cold cap to keep his hair.

The sportsman suffered a violent allergic reaction in gruelling chemo sessions - but only missed five days of training on a bike.

He took to Instagram on Sunday to reassure fans he is still “feeling fit, strong and positive” despite the diagnosis.

Hoy shared a snap of himself in Copenhagen for the World Track Cycling Championships and said it was “great to be out”.

“Some truly incredible performances; world records and a new generation of future stars showing us what they can do,” he wrote.

“You may see in the news this weekend some articles about my health, so I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m feeling fit, strong and positive, and overwhelmed by all the love and support shown to my family and me. Onwards!”

The legendary cyclist made his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games, winning the silver medal in the Team Sprint with Great Britain.

He won his first gold in the 1,000-meter Time Trials in Athens in 2004, before winning three more golds in Keirin, Sprint and Team Sprint at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Hoy’s immaculate Olympic career ended at the 2012 London Games by defending his titles in Keirin and Team Sprint.

The Scotland-born cyclist was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire “for services to cycling” in 2005.

All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet by Sir Chris Hoy is published on November 7.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Olympic legend, wife suffer double tragedy as news hidden from children