The UK’s prime minister has led messages of support for Sir Chris Hoy, after the former Olympic cycling champion turned sports pundit revealed he has been given a terminal cancer diagnosis. 

Sir Chris – who has won six gold Olympic medals for GB during his stellar cycling career – this weekend gave an interview to The Sunday Times, in which he explained that his cancer diagnosis, which he had revealed earlier in the year, was a terminal condition with a life expectancy of between two and four years. 

UK prime minister Keir Starmer shared the news on social media, saying: 

“Such sad news.
Chris is a British sporting legend. To face his diagnosis with such positivity is inspiring.
The whole country is behind him and his family.”

Many other figures have been quick to add their own messages of support. Double Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell posted on Instagram: 

“Digesting the sad news about chrishoy As Olympic champion his event got cut from the schedule. He refocused, didn’t complain, mastered different events & won 5 more gold medals.

“His message today “As unnatural as it feels, this is nature…I’m lucky there is medicine that will fend this off for as long as possible.”

“In my opinion he is more inspirational today than during his immense sporting career. Chapeaux X”

Sir Chris initially revealed that he was being treated for cancer at the beginning of the year. Following a course of chemotherapy, he was able to return to work and took up sports commentary duties at the Paris Olympics this summer. 

In the interview, he shared that his wife Sarra had been diagnosed at around the same time with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis, news that she had initially kept from him. 

The former sporting star added that, despite the prognosis, he remained positive and optimistic. He has written a book titled All That Matters: My Toughest Race Yet, which will be published on November 7.