Irish athlete Ciara Mageean diagnosed with cancer
The European champion and two-time Olympian posted on Instagram this evening.
The 33-year-old said the diagnosis has 'been a lot to take in,' but is 'ready to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track'.
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'To everyone who's been part of my journey so far, I have some difficult news to share: I've been diagnosed with cancer,' Mageean wrote.
'It's been a lot to take in, but I've already started treatment and I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of my family and close friends.
'Right now, my focus is on healing and taking things one day at a time. I kindly ask that you respect my privacy and that of my loved ones as we move through this together. Your understanding means more than I can say.
'Thank you for the love and strength. I'm ready to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track.'
The Portaferry native won 1500m gold at the European Championships in Rome last June, having previously claimed silver (2022) and bronze (2016).
She was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Olympic Games on the eve of her heat in Paris due to a long-running Achilles injury.
Mageean had been targeting a return at September's World Championships.
She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, and also featured at the 2021 Games in Tokyo, where injury also hampered her preparations.
Mageean was crowned 2022 Athletics Ireland Athlete of the Year, and took the Middle Distance honour in 2024.
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Ciara Mageean has shocked the nation after she revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer. The 1500m sprinter, who had just won gold at last year's European Championship in Rome, revealed her shock diagnosis on Friday and that she has already begun treatment. Ciara Mageean has shocked the nation after she revealed that she was diagnosed with cancer. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Hailing from Portaferry in Co Down, Ciara had a background in camogie before trading the pitch for the track, taking home a bronze medal in the 1500m race at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India in 2008. She would win several more medals, including gold at the European Youth Olympics and silver at the European Junior Championship, before making her Olympic debut with Team Ireland at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She won two further bronze medals at the European Championships, before winning silver at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 2022, before finally taking home gold in the 1500m race at the Europeans in Rome. Ciara won gold at the 1500m race during the European Championships in Rome last year. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Her parents and camogie coach also credited her time on the pitch being seamlessly translated to her time on the track, with her mum Catherine saying that her dash to the finish in her gold medal race was as if she was still playing camogie. 'It was as if she was going for goal with a hurl and a ball,' she said after the race. 'That's exactly what she was like. I thought 'That's it, no-one is catching her.' Thomas Moran and Ciara got engaged over Christmas of last year. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile In 2017, Ciara graduated from UCD with a BSc in Physiotherapy in 2017, having been awarded an Ad Astra Elite Scholarship. She ended up missing the graduation ceremony due to a competition, but was able to have a mini ceremony thrown by her now fiancé Thomas Moran. 'They got me a robe, and a hat, robbed my script from the cupboard it was hidden away in and told me to get dressed up for a surprise,' Ciara wrote on her Instagram. And speaking of, she met her soon to be husband Thomas in college, with fellow athlete Thomas competing in the 1500m race of his own; winning the Griffith Avenue mile in 2019. Late last year, Thomas popped the question — with Ciara telling EVOKE that the proposal was a long time coming. 'He bought a ring in Switzerland and was planning on proposing in Switzerland, but I was obviously going through a rough time,' she said. 'After the Olympics in Paris, whenever we have a little bit of time together. And then obviously that didn't go to plan. So yeah, the poor lad's been waiting for his opportunity.' Unfortunately, Ciara was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, revealing her diagnosis on Friday. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile Ciara announced on Friday that she was diagnosed with cancer, sharing a photo of her receiving chemotherapy on her Instagram. 'To everyone who's been part of my journey so far, I have some difficult news to share: I have been diagnosed with cancer,' she wrote. 'It's been a lot to take in, but I've already started treatment and I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of my family and close friends. Right now, my focus is on healing and taking things one day at a time. 'I kindly ask that you respect my privacy and that of my loved ones as we move through this together. Your understanding means more than I can say.'
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'We're all with you' - Top athletes flood Ciara Mageean with messages of support
Top athletes from around the globe have reached out to Ciara Mageean following her recent cancer diagnosis. The European Champion broke the shocking news on Friday evening, and promised ' to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track'. Mageean said she has already started treatment and will be focusing on her recovery. After revealing the news, she was flooded with messages of support. "Ciara, you're one of the toughest and strongest people I know!! We're all with you," said ex-athlete turned Athletics host David Gillick. "Sending you so much love and strength," said fellow Irish Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley. "We are all behind you. Sending you so much love and strength," added 400 m sprinter Sophie Becker. "Sending all our love Ciara . New fight for you now warrior woman," said Rob Heffernan. "I don't have the words worthy to send you. Just you are so loved and so so strong. And I wish I could give you the biggest hug. Thinking of you all, your family, Thomas and mostly importantly you. You've spent your entire life defying odds. Saying lots of prayers," said Olympic flag bearer Sarah Lavin. "Thinking of you at this difficult time and wishing you all the best as you face this unexpected challenge," added Sonia O'Sullivan. "Thinking of you! You got this," said Olympic Gold medal winner and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Keely Hodgkinson. Taking to social media on Friday, Mageen released a statement about her diagnosis. "To everyone who's been part of my journey so far, I have some difficult news to share: I've been diagnosed with cancer. "It's been a lot to take in, but I've already started treatment and I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of my family and close friends."Right now, my focus is on healing and taking things one day at a time. I kindly ask that you respect my privacy and that of my loved ones as we move through this together. Your understanding means more than I can say."Thank you for the love and strength. I'm ready to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track." The Portaferry native has had a stellar track career which culminated in an enthralling 1,500m European Gold last June when she raced to victory in Rome. She did suffer heartbreak when missing out on the Paris Olympics through injury but vowed to return for the Los Angeles games. Mageean holds national records in the 800m, 1000m, 1500m and the mile and has three European medals to her name, as well as a Commonwealth Games medal.
