MEDAL HERO ON STRAIN OF SON’S FIGHT FOR LIFE
“With Cal lum not hav ing that experience, it was very difficult and it ’s only now we realise what we missed out on. This has been an enjoyable, happy time instead of a really nervous, worrying time.
“It was the worst thing in the world sitting there seeing Callum in a little box with all the cables, the tubes and the wires.
“We felt we’d missed out on a lot of the joy of bringing a baby into the world because Callum was stuck in hospital
Sunday Mail
teamed up with former Labour Party speechwriter turned children’s author Joanna Nadin to write the adventures of cycling-mad character Fergus.
Sir Chris admits being a father helps inspire him with ideas for his books.
He said: “I’m not really able to read my books to Callum yet because they are for five to eight-year- olds.
“What I tend to do with Callum is just make up stories at bedtime. I just sit there and I say, ‘ What do you want a story about?’ and he’ll tell me or I’ll just say, ‘Right, tonight’s story is about this’.”
Sir Chris’s life has taken some bizarre turns since quitting the track after the 2012 London Olympics.
He swapped two wheels for four to try his hand at motorsport, driving for Nissan in the British GT Championship, as well as writing his children’s books.
And he’s also back on a bike after announcing a bid to cycle to the South Pole next year.
Sir Chris is attempting to break two world records as he cycles 423 miles up a 3000ft mountain range in -25C. He hit out at critics who might accuse him of being selfish for abandoning his family to risk his life. He said: “Sarra has been supportive in the same way she wa s wit h t he motor racing.
“A life without risk would be i nc r ed ibl y dull.”