'We're all with you' - Top athletes flood Ciara Mageean with messages of support
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.
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