Chris Hoy

Chris Hoy

Chris Hoy was born on March 23rd, 1976 and is currently 50 years old. Chris Hoy was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hoy attended The University of Edinburgh where he received a BSc (Hons.) in Applied Sports Science.

Chris Hoy is a retired track cyclist and race car driver. He competed for Great Britain in the Olympics and World Championships, and for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games. During his career, he won six Olympic gold medals and two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

All That Matters is a heartfelt and powerful memoir where Chris shares a very personal experience with terminal cancer.

In 2023, Hoy started feeling pain in his shoulder. As someone used to intense training and physical discomfort, he didn’t think much of it. But when the pain didn’t go away, his physiotherapist sent him for a scan. That scan revealed a tumor and further tests showed it was prostate cancer that had already spread to his pelvis, hips, ribs, and spine. The final diagnosis was devastating: the cancer was incurable, and doctors gave him a life expectancy of two to four years.

In complete shock, Hoy returned home with his wife, Sarra, to process the news. The couple decided not to tell many people at first and chose to wait until a treatment plan was in place. They have two young children, and until they had more information, they shared the news only with close family and friends. A few weeks later, he began chemotherapy to try to slow the spread of the disease.

What makes All That Matters truly remarkable is that, in the middle of all this, Hoy managed to write a memoir with journalist Matt Majendie. While the writing process may have been therapeutic for him, the book serves a larger purpose. More than just a story of illness; it is a personal gift to his family, especially his children. Since they are too young to fully understand what’s happening, the book is also a way for them to one day learn about their father’s experience.

The early chapters are especially emotional. They describe Hoy’s reaction to hearing that his cancer was terminal. He felt numb, unable to speak or even think clearly. His wife had to ask the questions for him during the consultation. Hoy makes it clear that cancer doesn’t always have a clear cause, and that even the healthiest lifestyle cannot always stop it. In his case, the cancer was linked to genetics, something he could not control.

As the book continues, Hoy shares details about his cancer treatment while also reflecting on his past achievements in cycling. These flashbacks are important, as they show how the mental skills he learned in sport are now helping him face cancer. He credits his former team psychologist, Dr. Steve Peters, with teaching him how to manage pressure and focus only on what he can control. This training becomes valuable as he deals with fear, anxiety, and the uncertainty of a terminal illness.

Chemotherapy is one of the toughest parts of his journey. Hoy compares it to a long training block, breaking it into smaller sections to stay mentally strong. However, even with his athlete’s mindset, he admits that the physical effects are incredibly difficult. He often feels like he is in a constant state of "fight or flight," overwhelmed by the harsh side effects of treatment.

As if that weren’t enough, more bad news follows. Not long after Hoy’s own diagnosis, his wife Sarra finds out she has multiple sclerosis. Readers are left wondering how much hardship one family can endure.

Hoy often reflects on how lucky he has been in life, both in his professional success and in the love and support of his family. He writes with honesty and grace, never asking for pity but simply sharing how he chooses to live each day with purpose. Cancer, he says, is now part of his life: “I can’t chase it away, but I can choose how I approach each day.”
In the end, All That Matters is a powerful and emotional read.

Chris Hoy’s courage in the face of such a difficult situation is inspiring, and his willingness to share his story with honesty and vulnerability makes this memoir truly unforgettable.

Chris Hoy: Awards & Accolades

Hoy's book, All That Matters was nominated for the British Book Awards, Non-Fiction: Narrative Book of the Year, in 2025.

Chris Hoy: F.A.Q