The Irish Olympian received an outpouring of support, hailed as an ‘inspirational’ and ‘seriously impressive human’ by RTE viewers after sharing her experiences following her diagnosis
Gold medalist Ciara Mageean of Team Ireland celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s 1500m during the 26th European Athletics Championships – Rome 2024 at Stadio Olimpico on June 10, 2024(Image: Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images for European Athletics)
Ciara Mageean has been hailed as an ‘inspirational’ and ‘seriously impressive human’ by RTE viewers after bravely sharing her cancer journey.
The Olympian and current 1500m European champion from Down appeared on the latest episode of Uncharted with Ray Goggins alongside Dublin GAA legend Michael Darragh MacAuley for an epic coast-to-coast endurance challenge across Costa Rica.
It covered over 250 kilometres from the Pacific to the Caribbean, with the trio cycling, running, kayaking, and trekking through dense rainforest and rugged terrain.
During the show, Ciara opened up about her cancer diagnosis in the programme, saying: “I was diagnosed with cancer last May and it’s been a bit of a whirlwind ever since. Initially, with the diagnosis, you think, ‘oh my God, am I going to die?’
“Me and the girls always have plans of our big 40th birthday and I’m like, ‘will I be there to celebrate that 40th birthday with my friends?’ and it’s really hard because as much as I can, I want to be me.
“I feel like it’s nearly easier being the person who has the illness. That going to treatment is in my control. How I cope with that post-chemo slump is on me and I know I will make it through.
“But it’s my partner, Tommy. He has to see me feel sick or my parents, whose little girl is ill and they can’t do anything about it.
“I have really low days and I think it’s normal to allow myself that, to just, like, say, OK, I’m sad today.
“Tommy might be out working in the office and he’s on a call and he’s looking at me and he’s like, ‘you OK?’ and I’m shaking my head and he’s like, ‘oh, just a minute’ and all I want is a hug.
“I always envisioned growing old with Thomas that I would get to see him age like a fine wine and get speckled bits of grey through his hair and the reality is I don’t know if I will have that. I find that really tough. I keep seeing beautiful things and I can’t help but wonder will I have an opportunity to see them again.”
Ciara specialises in the 1500 metres category and last year, she won gold at the European Athletics Championships, the first individual Irish European champion since Sonia O’Sullivan.
She also won bronze in 2016, silver in 2022 outdoors and bronze in 2019 indoors at the same event.
She was a silver medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and has represented Ireland in the Olympics: in 2016 in Rio and in 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics.
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