Irish athletics hero Ciara Mageean reveals shock cancer diagnosis at 33 in emotional statement but vows to ‘face fight'
The European 1500m champion and Irish record holder confirmed the shock diagnosis and told fans that she has already started treatment.
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Ciara Mageean has revealed that she's been diagnosed with cancer
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She has already started treatment
And the defiant 33-year-old insisted she's "ready to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track."
The middle-distance runner from Portaferry, Co Down added that she was "incredibly grateful" for the love and support she has received.
Announcing the health shock in a statement on social media this evening, this said: "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.
Read more on Ciara Mageean
"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."
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The Journal
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- The Journal
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Daytona races to Smullen success at Naas
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
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France stun holders England in heavyweight Women's Euros clash
Euro 2025 Group D: France 2 England 1 The folded bodies of the players in white shirts at the close told the story. England were lacklustre and they are down, but they are not out. The Lionesses kicked off their European title defence with a 2-1 defeat by an impressive France team, delivering Sarina Wiegman's first major tournament defeat outside of a final. After a promising and pressing start fell away, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore delivered for a resurgent France, Keira Walsh's late strike from a corner reducing the reigning European champions' blushes. A late charge was not enough and England have a lot of work to do to escape the tournament's group of death. There had been a cautious optimism around England fans in the buildup, a feeling that the holders would be able to assert their authority on the competition in the showpiece of the opening set of fixtures. 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She was the outlet in a blistering opening 20 minutes for the defending champions, soon making a powerful run followed by a beautiful and testing cross into the middle with which neither Russo or Beth Mead could quite connect. England head coach Sarina Wiegman Photo : Nick Potts/PA Wire. Wiegman's side thought they had the lead in the 16th minute and it would have been deserved, Russo firing a rebound past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, who had saved from Lauren Hemp. A video assistant referee check ruled it out for an offside in the buildup, but replays and stills were confusing, suggesting the most hairline of calls. There was a cagier period after the disallowed goal, the wind seemingly out of England's sails a little, and the French began to settle, finding joy out wide, particularly on the right against a somewhat bullied Jess Carter. A fine instinctive save from the foot of Hannah Hampton, freshly handed the No 1 shirt full time after the retirement of Mary Earps, spared England, although VAR also intervened for an offside. The goal was coming, though. England's passing was, put kindly, sloppy and France were quick to capitalise. Stanway was the culprit for the opener, her short pass pounced on by De Almeida. The full-back released Delphine Cascarino, who was untroubled by Carter, and pinged a cross in towards Katoto, who turned the ball coolly in. It was a bruising move. Six minutes later Les Bleues had a second and more calamitous defending proved costly. Lucy Bronze raced in to assist Leah Williamson as she tracked Baltimore but the full-back made a hash of her tackle and ended up on the floor poking the ball back to the Chelsea forward, who slammed across goal and in. England were rattled and France just looked hungrier. It took until the hour mark for Wiegman to make changes and it felt overdue: James, who was kept quiet after that blistering start, was hooked for Ella Toone, Mead made way for Chloe Kelly and Carter was spared facing forward Kadidiatou Diani, one of three France substitutions, when she was replaced by Charles. Concerningly, England just looked a little lost, unable to adapt to counteract the fluidity of the cohesive French. France's Marie-Antoinette Katoto, right, scores the 1:0 goal against England (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP) Toone fired wide late on, the ball taking a deflection on the way, and Wiegman played her hail Mary, sending on the 19-year-old Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang as they waited to take the corner. The set piece was cleared as far as Walsh, who fired in from the edge of the box. Agyemang caused problems for the French defence, but she just didn't have enough time. All is not lost. As Bronze pointed out in the buildup, England lost to France in their opening game of the 2015 World Cup before going on to record their best ever tournament run at the time, when they suffered semi-final heartbreak against Japan. The difference now is the strength of the group. They face the Netherlands next, who earned a 3-0 win over Wales in the early kick-off, before the home nations battle it out. FRANCE: Peyraud-Magnin, de Almeida (N'Dongala 80), Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha, Karchaoui (Toletti 80), Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Baltimore (Malard 62), Katoto (Mateo 62), Cascarino (Diani 62). ENGLAND: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood (Agyemang 86), Carter (Charles 60), James (Toone 60), Walsh, Stanway (Clinton 77), Mead (Kelly 61), Russo, Hemp. Ref: Tess Olofsson (Sweden). Guardian
