Sir Chris Hoy, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of Britain's most successful cyclists, is now using his unique mindset to tackle a different kind of challenge. A terminal cancer diagnosis has given the Scot a new purpose in life - to raise awareness and money for other people living with the illness.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Hoy explains that after learning of his prognosis, he felt like he had been presented with a problem list, but he refused to let it define him. Instead, he set about finding ways to make a positive impact on others who are struggling. "What Chris did when he was presented with this illness is he said: 'Right, what's the plan?' After we worked through the initial stages of the shock and grief of it, then he came out the other side and he picked up on the purpose," says Steve Peters, a sports psychologist who has worked with Hoy for many years.
Hoy's approach to dealing with his cancer diagnosis is centered around control. "In my sporting career it used to be about process, not outcome," he says. "Focus on what you have control over. But if you win or lose, it's not life and death." Peters echoes this sentiment, saying that Hoy has always been a man who can harness his mental toughness to drive him forward.
Hoy's cancer diagnosis has also given him a new perspective on the importance of sports in people's lives. He believes that exercise should not be seen as something that you do when you're ill, but rather something that you can still enjoy even while undergoing treatment. "What Chris did was he said: 'I'm going to make this my mission' and I think that's a very powerful thing," says Peters.
The campaign has already shown promising signs of success. In November, Hoy's charity event the Tour de Four raised over £3m for cancer charities across the UK. While some experts have questioned the effectiveness of the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation to not implement a prostate screening programme for all men in the UK, Hoy remains determined to push on.
"I was quite astonished," he says. "I can't believe that the answer to this situation is to sit on your hands and do nothing. There are 10,000 men a year in the UK who find out they have prostate cancer too late – it's incurable."
Hoy's story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have when faced with adversity. His courage and determination in the face of terminal cancer diagnosis is an inspiration to us all.
The documentary, Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me, will be broadcast for the first time on BBC One on December 18th at 21:00 GMT.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Hoy explains that after learning of his prognosis, he felt like he had been presented with a problem list, but he refused to let it define him. Instead, he set about finding ways to make a positive impact on others who are struggling. "What Chris did when he was presented with this illness is he said: 'Right, what's the plan?' After we worked through the initial stages of the shock and grief of it, then he came out the other side and he picked up on the purpose," says Steve Peters, a sports psychologist who has worked with Hoy for many years.
Hoy's approach to dealing with his cancer diagnosis is centered around control. "In my sporting career it used to be about process, not outcome," he says. "Focus on what you have control over. But if you win or lose, it's not life and death." Peters echoes this sentiment, saying that Hoy has always been a man who can harness his mental toughness to drive him forward.
Hoy's cancer diagnosis has also given him a new perspective on the importance of sports in people's lives. He believes that exercise should not be seen as something that you do when you're ill, but rather something that you can still enjoy even while undergoing treatment. "What Chris did was he said: 'I'm going to make this my mission' and I think that's a very powerful thing," says Peters.
The campaign has already shown promising signs of success. In November, Hoy's charity event the Tour de Four raised over £3m for cancer charities across the UK. While some experts have questioned the effectiveness of the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation to not implement a prostate screening programme for all men in the UK, Hoy remains determined to push on.
"I was quite astonished," he says. "I can't believe that the answer to this situation is to sit on your hands and do nothing. There are 10,000 men a year in the UK who find out they have prostate cancer too late – it's incurable."
Hoy's story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have when faced with adversity. His courage and determination in the face of terminal cancer diagnosis is an inspiration to us all.
The documentary, Sir Chris Hoy: Cancer, Courage and Me, will be broadcast for the first time on BBC One on December 18th at 21:00 GMT.
I'm really moved by Sir Chris Hoy's story 
. It's amazing how his cancer diagnosis has given him a new sense of purpose 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to focus on what you can control when faced with something as scary as terminal cancer? 
He's still got that mental toughness from his cycling days, but now he's using it to make a real difference in people's lives 
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. Like, what's the point of sitting on your hands and doing nothing when there are thousands of men who could benefit from it? 
It just seems like common sense to me.
. He's an inspiration not just to cyclists, but to anyone who's ever faced adversity 
. Can't wait to watch the documentary on Dec 18th 
so like chris hoy's got this super powerful mindset 
he doesn't give up when life gives him a curveball 
instead he finds ways to make a difference for others 
and it's really inspiring to see how he's using his cancer diagnosis as a catalyst for change 
he says focus on what you can control, not just the outcome 
which I think is such an important life lesson 
and it's amazing that he's pushing for more awareness around prostate cancer 
but what I love most about this story is how chris isn't just thinking about himself, he's thinking about all the others who are struggling with cancer too 
can't wait to see more of his inspiring story 
I'm still trying to process this... Sir Chris Hoy's cancer diagnosis is honestly a nightmare to hear, but his response is truly inspiring 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to find purpose in life when faced with something as devastating as terminal cancer? It's like he took the weight of the world off his shoulders and decided to use it for good 
. And his attitude towards exercise being for everyone, not just when you're sick, is something we could all learn from 
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. I think we can all take a page out of Sir Chris Hoy's book and find the strength to keep going even in the toughest of times 
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And what's with the 'mission' language? It feels like he's trying too hard to sell himself as a hero. 
. And I love how he's using his cycling fame to raise awareness and money for others going through the same thing – it's a real game-changer 
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. But Sir Chris Hoy's all about making a difference, right? So let's get behind him and support his charity work 
️. It's all about process over product, you know? And it's not just about his own experience, but also about inspiring others to take control of their health and make the most of every day 
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. And his campaign to push for prostate cancer screening is just fantastic 
. I'm all about him being the definition of a true warrior 
... he's such a strong person, you know? I mean, cancer is one thing, but to just pick up and keep going like that? It's amazing 
. He's got this whole "control" thing down pat, which I think is really helpful when things seem overwhelming. And it's so inspiring to see him use his platform to help others 
. It's awesome that he's not letting cancer define him, but instead finding ways to control what he can. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to do more exercise when you're stuck in the hospital? 
But seriously, his approach is pretty inspiring and I'm loving the positivity vibes from this guy 
! like, who wouldn't want to use their mortality as a catalyst to make a difference? it's crazy how some people can just take control of their situation and turn it into something positive 
. anyway, can't wait to watch the documentary on dec 18th - hope it's as inspiring as the story is 
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. So, what's your plan?