CIARA Mageean’s dreams of competing in a third Olympic Games have been left in tatters after an Achilles injury forced the Portaferry woman’s withdrawal on Monday night.
It is a huge blow for the 31-year-old, with news emerging on the eve of her 1500m heat at the Stade de France on Tuesday morning.
It has since been revealed that, in the final weeks of preparation for Paris, the European gold medallist had been dealing with chronic Achilles issues - with Team Ireland confirming on Monday night that she had been forced to withdraw.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken not to be able to compete in my third Olympic Games,” she said.
“I gave it everything to make it possible to be on the start line, but time was against me. I want to thank everyone for all their support.”
Mageean – who had surgery on an Achilles injury 10 years ago - was coming into the Games in flying form, having dramatically won European Championship gold in Rome in June, her career taking a dramatic upward turn after hooking with middle distance coach Helen Clitheroe.
Eamonn Christie was Mageean’s first coach when, as a teenager, she first signalled an enormous talent that would propel her onto the international stage.
“I’m devastated,” said the shocked Belfast man last night.
“I was looking so forward to it. I’ve been chatting to her mum and dad over the last few weeks, obviously when she won the European title I was in touch with them and in touch with her.
“The excitement for the Olympics was sky-high… that’s a real bitter pill to swallow for her because she had been running so well the last 18 months.
“There was a lot of talk of her winning a medal – I never hang a medal on anybody’s neck until they get the final, and if she had got to the final then anything can happen.
“I’m devastated, but I’m sure Ciara is 100 times more devastated than anybody because she was in really good form.”
Having also competed at Rio 2016 and Tokyo last time around, Mageean was looking forward to showing the world what she was capable of after falling short of her own high standards in her two previous attempts.
However, there were concerns after her Diamond League performances in Paris and Monaco after the Europeans, while she also opted not to compete in the Irish Championships at the end of June.
Christie, though, was still hoping about seeing the best of his former charge in Paris.
“I wouldn’t have read too much into her last two races because she went away to get into a training block in St Moritz, which was the right thing to do,” added Christie.
“I thought she’d have come out a different athlete tomorrow morning. It’s shocking news.”
Mageean will be 36 by the time the next Olympics roll around in Los Angeles and, while it would be a huge ask to make it to a fourth Games, Christie feels she won’t want her Olympic career to end on this note.
“Maybe this will be the wee fire in her belly that she needs – it all depends how serious the Achilles problem is.
“There’s the World Championships next year which she could aim for… four years is a long cycle for somebody at 32, but I still think she’ll give it another crack in LA.
“If I know Ciara, I don’t think she’ll want to finish on that note.”
