‘Ciara Mageean is the queen of our team' – Sarah Lavin's heartfelt tribute to Irish ace amid cancer fight
Mageean, 33,
Advertisement
2
Ciara Mageean became a European champion in June 2024
2
Lavin was speaking at an event to announce SPAR and EUROSPAR as Official Retail Partners to the Olympic Federation of Ireland
Credit: Sportsfile
The European 1500 metre champion — who
Hurdler Lavin, two years her junior, admitted she had been stunned by the news and stressed how much the Portaferry woman had been a rock for her and others on Team Ireland.
Lavin said: 'Ciara is the queen of our team. She has always been such a stellar person and is obviously one of our most prolific athletes.
'She's your safe person that you talk to before your race and makes you feel better. She's a very special person, an incredible athlete and she doesn't leave my mind at the moment.
Advertisement
Read More On Irish Sport
'What can you say? There's just shock and I'm sending everything possible, well wishes and healing, her way.'
Earlier, the Limerick woman — who has competed at the last two Games — stressed how the camaraderie among Irish competitors across sport has reached a new high.
Lavin said: 'There was a camaraderie level to Paris that really has held.
That's also testament to Team Ireland and the actual body.
'They're so people-focused. We need to deliver results, perform and be operating at the highest possible level.
Advertisement
Most read in Athletics
'But we're human and it's really important that we see each other as humans and that we're there for each other.'
Their exploits have also struck a chord with the public with Lavin targeting a place in the final of the 100m hurdles at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
Donald Trump reveals he's keeping Club World Cup trophy after gatecrashing Chelsea celebrations as Blues get replica
And she believes track and field is now being viewed as a desirable career option in a way it had not when she was growing up.
The Lisnagry woman explained: 'I don't know if that's to do with social media. It's a fantastic sport for girls to participate in and is an attractive lifestyle.
Advertisement
'It's difficult but if you're going to try to be one of the best in the world at what you do, it's going to be hard.
'But the fact you can be financially independent for yourself is a really important message that young girls can get. Growing up for me, the only visibility we had was pop stars and models.
'That was what was deemed to be attractive. We would make dances and stuff. And for guys, they wanted to play for Manchester United or Liverpool and they were your two dreams.
'What's really special is going out and seeing people want to be athletes, they want to be a professional athlete and to think that every young girl could believe that they could be a professional athlete.
Advertisement
'Everyone's human and it's not just someone you see on the TV, there's someone there on the track.'
NATIONALS PLAN
Lavin revealed she is likely to race in the 200m flat, rather than the 100m, as well as in the hurdles, at the National Championships at the start of August because of a scheduling issue.
She said: 'Ideally, I will run the two days of nationals. But they have changed the 100m in the timetable.
"There will only be ten minutes between the 100m hurdles and the 100m so I don't know if that's going to be possible.
Advertisement
"I might go for the 200m on the Sunday. If a few of the 400m girls go in it, it'll end up being a really good race.'
SARAH LAVIN spoke at an event to announce SPAR and EUROSPAR as official retail partners to the Olympic Federation of Ireland.
The partnership will see the leading retail group support Team Ireland as they build towards and compete at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
a minute ago
- The Irish Sun
Topless hakas and wild celebrations – how rugby legend is bringing winning culture to Chelsea's billion pound youngsters
FROM doing a topless haka in the Chelsea dressing room to punching the dugout in celebration of the Club World Cup win, you can see the passion that Willie Isa brings to the Blues. The former world champion rugby league star, 36, started in the Advertisement 8 Willie Isa was named Chelsea's player support and development officer earlier this year - and is already very much at the heart of what's going on at Stamford Bridge Credit: Getty 8 Isa is a world championship-winning legend of rugby league Credit: Getty 8 Isa has gone viral in recent months for his hilarious antics at the Blues - including performing the haka in the dressing room Yet the viral videos of the Samoan demonstrate Isa is already very much at the heart of what is going on at Stamford Bridge. It comes as no surprise to Isa's former boss at Wigan Warriors that he has become so popular, so quickly in his new life in a new sport. In February 2024, head coach Matt Peet led Wigan to victory in the World Club Challenge. And Isa, who had been at the club since 2016, was the 'cultural architect' who set the standards on and off the field that underpinned the triumph. Advertisement READ MORE SPORT STORIES Peet told SunSport: 'It can sound vague I think, like wishy-washy words, when you talk about culture and standards. 'But it comes back to what are you willing to accept and what are you not willing to accept. 'And who's going to set where the line is and acknowledge when things fall below standard. 'Willie was someone who would be driving the cultural side of the environment, standards, behaviours, attitude, just 24/7. Those people are so important. Advertisement Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'We all knew he'd be an addition to any environment. So it's just fair play to Just weeks after Isa became a world champion with Wigan in February last year, he suffered an horrific injury. Simons wants Chelsea move as Villa block Rogers exit | Transfers Exposed A fractured fibula and dislocated ankle put him out for months, but even then - especially then - he made sure he continued to contribute. Advertisement In the autumn, after Wigan had lifted the Challenge Cup and Super League without him on the field, Isa said: 'I was elevated a few years back as a leader and, with the injury, I wanted to play a part in the team in some other way. 'The one-to-one stuff I love but also leading in the group. I make sure our principles stay intact as a club in performance and as people.' Isa returned to training but never to matches before Chelsea offered him the chance to show his off-field skills were transferable to a different sport. You could say Isa was to Wigan what James Milner was to Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, with the former Kop boss saying Milner was absolutely vital in setting the tone and standards which propelled the Reds back to the top. Advertisement It is a comparison which Peet agrees with and Isa would appreciate. Because, after joining Widnes Vikings in 2012, he became a committed Liverpool fan. He was in Madrid to watch Klopp's side win the Champions League in 2019 and long-term partner Gemma Bonner plays for the Reds' ladies side. 8 Isa was spotted pounding on the dugout in celebration at the Club World Cup 8 Isa is in a relationship with Liverpool Women's star Gemma Bonner, left Credit: Getty Advertisement But now Isa finds himself working for one of Liverpool's big rivals. The average age of a Chelsea starter last season - 24 years and 36 days - was the youngest in Premier League history. And Peet believes Isa is the perfect role model, mentor and confidant for Peet said: 'Any young player, they want to be challenged to improve. They want to be shown the way to lead your life as a professional, in high performance. Advertisement 'But first and foremost, they want to know that there's a genuine care there. 'That's what Willie will be good at. He'll put his arm around those that need it, but it won't be a softly, softly approach. 'It'll be driving them to be the best they can be. 'Whatever age group, whatever walk of life these players and staff are from, Willie will have a good way of engaging with people, building relationships and trust with everyone really.' Advertisement That was certainly the case at Wigan, as Peet recalled: 'The story I like telling about Willie is we were having a team culture discussion one morning. 'We asked all the players to talk about something that a team-mate had done for them which no one else knew about. 'There were 25 people in the meeting that shared and probably over half of the people mentioned Willie. 'Giving them a lift to training. Borrowing them some money. Allowing them to stay at his house rent free when things had gone wrong for them... Advertisement 'Or when they had moved over from another country, just catching up with the lads for a coffee or doing things for their families. 'You would think, in a meeting like that after a while, certain people would be friends with some groups more than others. 'But it was really evident that Willie was a good team-mate to a cross-section of the team.' 8 Isa has swapped the oval ball for the round ball Credit: Getty Advertisement 8 Isa has brought his Samoan haka from the rugby pitch to Chelsea's dressing room Behind his strapping physique and competitiveness, Isa really is a man for all seasons. Peet said: 'He's interested in his sport, no doubt. When he was in the rugby club he was 100 per cent rugby league, but then at the weekend he'd go watch Gemma or Liverpool. 'He also had a diverse range of interests. What he'd read about, what he'd talk about, politics, social issues. Advertisement 'I know that weekly he'd visit homeless shelters. Not as an appearance, they wouldn't even know he was a professional athlete. He'd just go and do it off his own bat. 'He's just an interesting guy. He's happy to have a conversation about a range of subjects. 'It'll be seen as a team role that he has, linked to culture and environment. But it's really built on individual connections and that's where Willie will excel.' By all accounts, Isa is really making an impression at Chelsea. Advertisement He is a daily presence at the club's training ground in Cobham and part of the backroom staff for every match. A popular figure. A leader of men. And, just months after swapping an oval ball for a round one, part of a world championship-winning team again. 8
The Irish Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
European giants release ‘absolute worldie' third shirt but it leaves fans divided – as others compare it to tennis kit
A EUROPEAN giant has left fans divided after releasing its new third shirt. Advertisement 5 Roma have released a new third shirt which has divided fans Credit: X @adidasfootball 5 Some fans have hailed it as a 'worldie' Credit: X @adidasfootball 5 But some see it more as a 'tennis' shirt Credit: X @adidasfootball The Serie A outfit's new shirt features a white base with a green collar and gold trim. On the shirt, there is fine detailing which is said to resemble the "patterns of Italian gardens". The green is inspired by the greenery of Roman villas. The badge has also been changed from the club crest to a "ASR" trigram. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL Fans have had a mixed reaction to the kit on social media, with some loving it and others thinking it is more suitable for tennis. One posted: "That's one of the best kits I've seen in a long time." A second wrote: "That's an absolute worldie." A third commented: "Now is an absolute beauty." Advertisement Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS While a fourth argued: "That's minging. Nothing Roma about that." A fifth said: "Am I the only one that doesn't like it? Just doesn't look like a football shirt to me. Think it's a bit tennis for my liking." Roma fans mob and serenade Ireland star Evan Ferguson at airport ahead of loan move from Brighton Another added: "Really? Looks like a 1990s tennis shirt to me." Advertisement The shirt will be worn by Evan Ferguson, who has joined the Italian side on loan from The Irish striker was once valued at £100million but injuries, poor form and an underwhelming loan at Should he impress at the Stadio Olympico, then the club could make the loan permanent next summer for £35m. 5 Evan Ferguson will wear the shirt next season Credit: Getty Advertisement 5 He has joined Roma on loan from Brighton Credit: Getty He was mobbed and serenaded by supporters at the Rome Ciampino Airport in the nation's capital ahead of completing the move. The Adidas-made jersey will not come cheap for fans, with it retailing at £130 before any customisation. This price is for a short-sleeved match authentic edition of the shirt. Advertisement Roma will wear the new kit for their friendly match against German outfit 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion. Last season, I Giallorossi finished fifth in the Serie A table and qualified for the Europa League. Gian Piero Gasperini was brought in as the new manager this summer to replace Premier League icon Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri has taken a position working as the manager and senior advisor to the ownership Advertisement Roma are not the only club to spark debate with their new shirt. Arsenal's home kit has
The Irish Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal vs AC Milan LIVE SCORE: Zubimendi set to make Gunners debut in opening pre-season clash against Italian giants
ARSENAL open their pre-season tour with a tricky clash against Italian giants AC Milan - and the action unfolds SOON! New signings Cristhian Mosquera has travelled late to meet the squad over in Asia after completing all of his required documents, but is unlikely to feature. While £52m Kick-off time: 12:30pm BST Live stream: Arsenal starting team: To follow AC Milan starting team: To follow BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Follow ALL the action from Arsenal's pre-season match with our live blog below... By On the mend Martin Zubimendi has already reached new heights at Arsenal without kicking a ball. The Gunners' £51million signing is all smiles overlooking an incredible skyline on the tallest rooftop bar in Singapore. And it is fitting that he is sat next to his old Real Sociedad and Spain pal Mikel Merino, given the pair were involved in an audaciously orchestrated double-whammy transfer by Arsenal and boss Copy link Copied By Arsenal's pre-season schedule Arsenal kickstart their pre-season with a tour around Asia, where they will take on a European giant, followed by some familiar faces. And fans can expect to see a lot more games that have not been announced just yet. Wednesday, July 23: Arsenal vs AC Milan - Singapore National Stadium, Singapore (12:30pm BST) Sunday, July 27: Arsenal vs Newcastle - Singapore National Stadium, Singapore (12:30pm BST) Thursday, July 31: Arsenal vs Tottenham - Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong (12:30pm BST) Wednesday, August 6: Arsenal vs Villarreal - Emirates Stadium, London (5pm BST) Saturday, August 9: Arsenal vs Athletic Club - Emirates Stadium, London (5pm BST) Copy link Copied By Gunner start fresh Welcome to SunSport's official coverage of Arsenal's thrilling pre-season clash against AC Milan - and something tells me it won't be so friendly. The Gunners have only lifted one major trophy since And it has been several years filled with heartbreak as Arteta's men have finished second for three consecutive seasons in the Premier League. However, fans will be hoping that the appointment of new sporting director Andrea Berta is a catalyst for change off the pitch, as the Italian is known for his shrewd recruitment in the transfer market. The Italian has already made a major impact by recruiting Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Christhian Mosquera, and closing in on Viktor Gyokeres. But ultimately, it's about what the Gunners do on the pitch, and their pre-season tour gets underway today! Copy link Copied
