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Chris Hoy, one of the most prominent figures in the history of track and also British cycling, has been diagnosed with cancer and now he has revealed that this is also terminal and he is expected to live up to another two to four years.
With all eyes on the Track World Championships this week for those who follow the discipline, it also provided an opportunity to catch up with some of the former big figures of the sport. The Sunday Times interviewed the rider who retired in 2013, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year but in the meantime he has informed that it spread to the bones and it is terminal.
"As unnatural as it feels, this is nature. You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process," he said to the British news outlet. "Hand on heart, I’m pretty positive most of the time and I have genuine happiness. This is bigger than the Olympics. It's bigger than anything. This is about appreciating life and finding joy."
The track legend however has a very optimistic view of this diagnosis, and is learning to appreciate everything that he has had and continues to have to this day in his life: "I’m optimistic, positive and surrounded by love for which I’m truly grateful. It's absolutely not denial or self-delusion. It's about trying to recognise, what do we have control over?. The fear and anxiety, it all comes from trying to predict the future. But the future is this abstract concept in our minds. None of us know what's going to happen. The one thing we know is we’ve got a finite time on the planet."
Hoy conquered gold medals in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games at the Track Time-trial and Team Sprint disciplines; and has accumulated an impressive 11 gold medals throughout World Championships spreading from 2002 to 2012.