Illness cannot break the fighter's spirit: Ciara Mageean's story
Irish runner Ciara Mageean was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025. Despite the severe diagnosis and 18 rounds of chemotherapy, she maintains hope and determination, refusing to let the disease define her.
At the age of 33, in May 2025, Irish athlete Ciara Mageean received a devastating diagnosis: stage four bowel cancer. The runner, who has always demonstrated resilience in her career, now faces a challenge far beyond the track.
Mageean has undergone 18 rounds of chemotherapy. She admits the diagnosis "completely floored" her, and the hardest part was telling her family. Her father went for a walk to hide his tears. The burden on her family is heavy, and Mageean is glad she can bear the pain and sickness herself, as her family cannot help.
The two-time Olympian hopes that ongoing research might change her prognosis, and she clings to the possibility of being among the 10-15% of patients who survive beyond five years. She says: "In life you make your own hope. I'm not going to let this cancer win."
Mageean is awaiting scan results that will determine her treatment path. This waiting period is like "limbo" – anxiety and dread – but she tries not to focus on the negative.
The athlete admitted that after her diagnosis, she stopped following athletics and only recently resumed. She mourns the abrupt end of her career but is grateful for her achievements, including Commonwealth Games silver in the 1500m in 2022 and European gold in 2024.
Mageean is planning her wedding to long-term partner Tommy and seeking second opinions on treatment. She emphasizes: "I'm not going to let that fear, anger and sadness be the overwhelming emotion because if I did, it would take away from whatever joy can be there." Her philosophy: never give up hope and keep fighting.
