A wee dander with.........Ciara Mageean - In pursuit of Irish Track Triumph - Tokyo Olympics

 

The anguished face of Ciara Mageean, following the tortuous final lap of the 1500m women's race in Toyko, touched our hearts. Having seen her Covid interrupted training schedules of 2020 and 2021, and the late tear sustained to her calf muscle, frustratingly the week prior to the race, we knew how much this would hurt her.  In truth it only served further notice of how bravely the 29 year old had battled to place in the race, in spite of the detrimental injury, and the guts it took to take the race to the favourites at the start knowing how few options were left if the strategy did not work out.  Typically, Ciara wasn't one to complain offering that she is not 'one for sharing troubles that arise'.  

She takes ownership of her own problems and sets them right in her own assertive manner.  

Ciara has worked hard to get to the top and she will stay there from her own work mantra.

Ciara had hoped for a final spot and a PB in these Olympics. Hailing from the Ards peninsula town of Portaferry, the former camogie player had hoped to improve on her ground breaking showing in Rio 2016 and the 2019 World Championships.  She was a contender for the final and that is the part which will eat at her the most, as it would any top class athlete.  Her training in the Pyrenees had meant she was in good shape coming into the games and the calf issue in her last training session will have caused huge frustration.  She is teak tough and has overcame worse setbacks, no doubt she will be back to represent Ireland again and will look to kick on again once more. She pushes herself to the limit for personal and National goals to which the pride she has when putting on the Ireland vest is evident and the Olympic spirit and the diversity such spirit brings, is something that is too often overlooked by outside commentators. 

Ciara has plenty of accolades so far with a Silver medal in the European Championships, a bronze in European Indoor Championships and became the 1st Irish women to break the 2 minutes mark for the 800m. She holds the Irish records for the Mile and the 1500m.  It is fair to say Ciara can move.

Hardworking, loyal and ambitious, her infectious optimism and enthusiasm for life is a tremendous quality.  Undoubtedly she will have hard moments over the next few weeks but she will overcome and should reflect how much pride she gives us when we see her compete and how she inspires us to become better versions of ourselves when we see her take the knocks and still overcome them. She encourages and embraces the best of ourselves and doesn't get caught up in tribalistic corteges. Ciara takes you for what you are, not for what you are deemed to be.

If you're looking for a role model for your kids showing fortitude and hard work allied to talent then look no further than Ciara. 

Photo courtesy of RTE