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Born in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh in 1976, Chris Hoy was educated at George Watsons College before studying at the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with a degree in applied sports science.
He competed in BMX racing from the age of seven, at one point being ranked second in the UK, and also represented Scotland in rowing before taking up track cycling.
That decision saw Hoy become Scotland’s greatest ever Olympian, winning six gold and one silver medal between 2012 and 2021. He also won 11 world titles and two Commonwealth gold medals.
Read more: ‘We’re all terminal’ - Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy on coming to terms with his cancer diagnosis
He lives in Edinburgh with his wife Sarra and their two children and was awarded a knighthood in the 2009 New Year Honours list.
In October 2024 he revealed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer in 2023 and had been given between two and four years to live.
And this week saw him mark his 50th birthday on Monday, March 26.
To mark the day here are 26 interesting quotes from the athlete over the years - including his reaction to his illness.
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17. Chris Hoy on... pressure
"If you stop and think about it before you compete, you would freeze. If you think about the millions of people watching, the expectation, the consequences of winning, of losing, it's a massive moment in your life." | Getty Images
19. Chris Hoy on...his wife
"My wife Sarra was instrumental to my success. When I was training, she took care of everything. She would make me dinner and always understood when I had to go to bed early or couldn't walk around the shops." | Getty Images
20. Chris Hoy on...being Scottish
"cottish people don't take themselves too seriously. I think you have to be like that when you're from a place where the weather is bad." | adidas via Getty Images