British cyclist Chris Hoy, a six-time Olympic track champion, revealed on Friday that he had cancer.
However, he said he was “optimistic and positive” for the future.
Aged 47, the ex-track rider announced in a message published on Instagram that he was following treatment including chemotherapy and that the protocol was going “very well”.
The Scot did not specify the nature of his cancer, which, he wrote, was diagnosed last year.
“It was a terrible shock because I had no symptoms at the time,” he continued.
As you can imagine, these last few months have been terribly difficult.
But I feel good for now, I continue to work, I cycle and I lead a normal life.
» Chris Hoy also took the opportunity to ask that his privacy be respected.
“While I'm grateful for all the support, I'd like to handle this privately,” he said.
My heart goes out to everyone going through similar challenges at the moment.
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Born in Edinburgh, Chris Hoy competed in four Olympic Games.
After winning silver in the team sprint in 2000 in Sydney, he won his first individual Olympic title in the kilometer four years later in Athens.
His record was enriched with three new gold medals in Beijing (2008) then two others in London (2012).
Hoy, who retired from sport in 2013, also has eleven world titles.