Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy has announced he has been diagnosed with cancer.
The former track cyclist shared the news on his Instagram account, saying he had hoped to keep the diagnosis private but that his “hand has been forced”.
Sir Chris said he was currently undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, but added “I currently feel fine”.
The 47-year-old said he is “optimistic, positive and surrounded by love” after revealing he was diagnosed last year.
Sir Chris said he was dealt a “huge shock” when he was diagnosed, as he had not had any prior symptoms.
He did not reveal what type of cancer he is receiving treatment for.
Image: Chris Hoy (centre) on the podium at The Commonwealth Games in 2002. Pic: PA
The ex-Team GB cyclist, who was knighted in 2008, added his treatment “is going really well” and he is “truly grateful” for the support he’s received.
The athlete added in his statement: “I’m currently receiving treatment including chemotherapy. I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals for their amazing help and care.
“Whilst I’m thankful for any support, I’d like to deal with this privately. My heart goes out to the many others who are also going through similar challenges right now.”
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Sir Chris is an 11-time world champion with six Olympic gold medals and one silver at three different games – Athens, Beijing and London in 2012.
These medal hauls made Sir Chris the most successful British Olympian until his tally was surpassed by Sir Jason Kenny in Tokyo.
Image: Sir Chris won gold in Athens in 2004. Pic PA
Announcing his diagnosis, the Scot added: “As you might imagine, the last few months have been incredibly difficult.
“However, I currently feel fine – I am continuing to work, ride my bike and live my life as normal.
“It’s an exciting year of work ahead, not least with the Paris Olympics in July. I can’t wait to get stuck in, have fun and share it with you all.”
MOTD presenter Gary Lineker commented on the news, posting on X/Twitter: “Awful news. Wishing @chrishoy a full recovery. Such a lovely guy.”
Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf sent his best wishes following his announcement, writing on X/Twitter: “My very best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to the sporting legend that is Sir @chrishoy.
“I hope appeals for privacy for him and his family are heeded at what must be a difficult time for them all.”
Image: (Left to right) Craig MacLean, Jason Queally and Chris Hoy after winning silver in Sydney. Pic: PA
Billy Watson, chief executive of Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), of which he had been an ambassador since 2009, said: “We are incredibly proud to have Sir Chris as our longstanding ambassador and send our heartfelt support to Chris and his family.
“We know Chris’s commitment to the mental health cause remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to working with him in the period ahead.”
Sir Chris is still the second most decorated Olympic cyclist, with Sir Jason top and Sir Bradley Wiggins third with one less gold than his Team GB teammate.
Chris Hoy was knighted in the New Year Honours List in 2008, after winning three cycling golds at the Beijing games.
Since retiring in 2013, Sir Chris has launched new careers, including in motorsport, where he competed as a Le Mans racing driver.
He has also worked as a TV pundit on the Olympics and as an author – publishing two children’s fiction books.
Sir Chris has been married to Sarra, 38, since 2010 and they have a nine-year-old son, Callum, and a daughter, Chloe, who is six.
The first known victim of serial paedophile Richard Burrows has told Sky News he regrets not reporting his assault at the time to save others from “falling into the same trap”.
Burrows, 81, will learn his sentence at Chester Crown Court today after being convicted last month of dozens of sexual offences against young boys.
The judge told him it is “inevitable” he might never be released.
The former scout master had spent 27 years on the run, living in what he called “paradise” in Thailand, after stealing the identity of a friend and fleeing the UK when he was due in court in 1997.
Image: A police photo of Burrows from the 1990s. Pic: Cheshire Police
He was arrested when he arrived at Heathrow in March last year.
The trial heard that Burrows had obtained positions of authority and systematically abused boys from the 1960s to the mid-1990s.
He had worked as a housemaster at a school for troubled boys and befriended other youngsters through amateur radio clubs.
One of those was his first victim, aged 14 at the time in the late 1960s, and now 71.
He told Sky News: “It’s been an awfully long time and after 57 years I’ve got to see the results at the end of it.
“It does actually feel like a weight’s been lifted. You hear that expression all through life, but it’s the first time ever really felt it.”
He described Burrows as a “devious, nasty creature”.
The man, who cannot be identified as he is the victim of a sexual offence, attended Burrows’s trial and delivered a victim impact statement at his sentencing.
He said he wanted to do this because of the regret he carries to this day.
“I wish I’d said something when it happened because I feel that, in retrospect, if I would have said something, then maybe it would have stopped other people from falling into the same trap that I did,” he added.
“But at that time, at that age, I thought I probably wouldn’t have been believed, and I felt too ashamed and embarrassed and even guilty to even mention it to anybody else. So, I didn’t, and I regret not doing that.”
Image: Photos of Burrows in Thailand. Pic: Cheshire Police
The man contacted police after seeing an appeal for help in finding the fugitive Burrows on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme in 2011. It would be another decade before he was arrested.
He said: “I really begrudge him those 27 years. It’s 27 years and he’s just left a trail of wreckage behind him while he’s enjoying himself.
“It’s a shame he’s not got another 27 years to look forward to in jail.”
Although he was the earliest victim on the indictment at Burrows’s trial, like detectives from Cheshire Police, he believes there could be other victims who have not come forward.
He said: “Personally, I don’t think I was the first victim. I think that he was probably fairly well practiced in the art of what he was doing prior to my meeting him.”
Image: Burrows being met by police at Heathrow. Pic: Cheshire Police
Burrows was initially charged in May 1997 but failed to attend a hearing later that year.
He remained on the wanted list until police using facial recognition software matched him to a man using the name Peter Smith. He had stolen the identity of a terminally ill friend to obtain a passport.
After his conviction in March, judge Steven Everett told Burrows he had caused “untold distress and trauma to the victims and their families”.
The UK has joined US forces in attacking a Houthi target in Yemen for the first time since Donald Trump was re-elected.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the strikes took place on Tuesday as part of the government’s response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The ministry said careful intelligence analysis identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture the sort of drones used to attack ships, located 15 miles south of the capital Sanaa.
RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on several buildings using Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.
The planes had air refuelling support from Voyager tankers.
The ministry said the strike was conducted after dark to reduce the likelihood of civilians being in the area.
All the aircraft returned safely.
Image: John Healey. Pic: Reuters
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security.
“Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base.
“We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping.”
Houthis a ‘persistent threat’ to ‘freedom of navigation’
Mr Healey said Houthi activities in the Red Sea are a “persistent threat” to “freedom of navigation”.
“A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK,” he said.
“The government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the service men and women involved in this operation.”
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The group began launching attacks on shipping routes in November 2023 saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
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Footage showing people being pulled from rubble has been released by Houthi rebels in Yemen