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Sir Chris Hoy: Six-time Olympic gold medallist says he is being treated for cancer

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Sir Chris Hoy: Six-time Olympic gold medallist says he is being treated for cancer

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.

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He did not reveal what type of cancer he is receiving treatment for.

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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.”

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.

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Great Britain's Chris Hoy celebrates after winning the gold medal in Athens Olympic Games 2004 - Men's 1km Time Trial
Phil Noble/PA Archive/PA Images
Date taken: 20-Aug-2004
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Sir Chris won gold in Athens in 2004. Pic PA

These medal hauls made Sir Chris the most successful British Olympian until his tally was surpassed by Sir Jason Kenny in Tokyo.

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.”

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The Great Britain Men's Olympic Sprint Team (left to right) Craig MacLean and Jason Queally and Chris Hoy celebrate winning the Silver medal in the Men's Olympic Sprint Final at the Olympic Velodrome in Sydney. John Giles/PA Archive/PA Images
Date taken: 17-Sep-2000
Image:
(Left to right) Craig MacLean, Jason Queally and Chris Hoy after winning silver in Sydney. Pic: PA

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.

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DR Congo says 1,307 Ebola cases confirmed, including 377 deaths

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DR Congo says 1,307 Ebola cases confirmed, including 377 deaths

Outbreak spreads to a fourth province, Haut-Uele, bordering South Sudan and the CAR, according to a media report.

⁠The Democratic Republic ⁠of the Congo (DRC) says confirmed ‌Ebola cases in the country have reached 1,307 and include ⁠377 deaths.

In an update issued late on Monday, the country said the confirmed cases ⁠have been ⁠recorded ⁠in three provinces – Ituri, ‌North Kivu and ‌South ‌Kivu.

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The announcement comes as the AFP news agency reported that a case has been detected in a fourth province. A source at the DRC’s National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) quoted by AFP said the viral haemorrhagic fever has spread to Haut-Uele, which borders South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

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The source said the case there was detected after an infected person travelled from Bunia, Ituri’s capital, to Haut-Uele.

That person has since died, another health source told AFP.

Authorities are now trying to trace the chain of transmission and identify contacts.

Its spread to Haut-Uele means the DRC’s entire northeast, home to about 15 million people, is now affected.

The conflict-hit province of Ituri is the epicentre of the country’s latest Ebola outbreak, its 17th, which started in May.

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In many cases, the virus has spread at funerals, where the highly infectious bodies of Ebola victims are handled.

For weeks, aid workers, facing mistrust among local communities, have struggled to plan safe burials in affected areas to prevent contact with the dead.

In the DRC, funerals often last several days, during which family members and friends touch the body of the deceased.

Reporting from a treatment centre in Rwampara in Ituri province, Al Jazeera’s Catherine Wambua-Soi said health workers often lack sufficient equipment.

“These centres have been attacked several times. Last month, tents here were set on fire by an angry mob. Some Congolese still distrust those trying to help,” she said.

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“They need more of everything: protective gear, medicines, rapid test kits … and body bags.”

On Saturday, the government issued a ban on public gatherings in four ⁠provinces, including the country’s capital, Kinshasa, as it continues to battle the spread of the outbreak.

That order was issued before a planned protest in Kinshasa on July 8 against constitutional reform, and opposition figures have called the ban “politically motivated.”

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Russia's ruling party runs Ukraine war veteran among lead candidates for September election

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Russia's ruling party runs Ukraine war veteran among lead candidates for September election
Russia’s ruling party on Sunday announced it would run an injured Ukraine war veteran and a television war correspondent, alongside ​the country’s foreign minister and the mayor of Moscow, as ‌lead candidates in a parliamentary election due in September.
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Gunman kills 6 at youth welfare facility in suspected child custody dispute: reports

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Gunman kills 6 at youth welfare facility in suspected child custody dispute: reports

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A suspect is in custody after six people were shot and killed Monday at a youth welfare facility in northern Germany, officials said.

The shooting happened around midday in Stade, a town of about 50,000 people near Hamburg. Authorities said the victims — four women and two men — all worked at the youth center or affiliated organizations. Five were pronounced dead at the scene, while a sixth died later at a hospital, according to The Associated Press, citing authorities.

Several others were wounded in the shooting, which may have been tied to a child custody dispute, the outlet reported.

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The shooting happened around midday in Stade, a town of about 50,000 people near Hamburg. (News5/Reuters)

Police said the shooting happened at a facility on Dankersstrasse that houses pregnant women and young mothers with children, according to The Associated Press.

The suspect, a 45-year-old man, had an appointment at the facility earlier in the day before the shooting unfolded around midday. His 3-month-old daughter and the child’s mother were safe, Reuters reported.

The suspected gunman was arrested. Police said two others were also subject to police measures on suspicion of involvement but did not provide additional details, according to The Associated Press.

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Authorities said the victims — four women and two men — all worked at the youth center or affiliated organizations.  (News5/Reuters)

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was “deeply shocked” by the violence at a place meant to protect women and children.

“The horrific act of violence in Stade claimed the lives of six people today. I am deeply shaken by the extent of the violence in a place that is meant to provide protection,” Steinmeier said. 

“My condolences go to the families of the dead and injured, who must endure so much pain. My thanks go to all first responders and doctors.”

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Police warned people to avoid the area after the shooting but later said there was no danger to the public. (News5/Reuters)

Police warned people to avoid the area after the shooting but later said there was no danger to the public. Investigators were still collecting evidence Monday evening, Reuters reported.

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Mass shootings in Germany are rare.

Earlier this year, a car plowed into a pedestrian zone in Leipzig, Germany, killing two people and leaving several others seriously injured.

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Stade Police could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

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