By Janhavi Shinde
Femke Bol, Keely Hodgkinson, Nikki Hiltz, and other athletes recently expressed their empathy and support towards the European Champion Ciara Mageean, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Mageean made the unfortunate announcement on social media.The Irish athlete secured a gold medal in the 1500m at the 2024 European Championships after bettering her performance from the bronze medal in 2016 and the silver medal at the 2022 European Championships. She also competed at the Rio and Tokyo Games before missing out on the Paris Olympics due to an Achilles injury.The 33-year-old middle-distance runner opened up about her diagnosis on Instagram after penning a touching message.”I鈥檝e been diagnosed with cancer,” Mageean wrote. “It鈥檚 been a lot to take in, but I鈥檝e already started treatment and I鈥檓 incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the love and support of my family and close friends.” View this post on Instagram Instagram PostMageean received massive support from the track community as multiple athletes, including Femke Bol, sent her love and strength, writing:”鉂わ笍鉂わ笍 sending you love and strength.”鈾ワ笍 oh Ciara. I鈥檓 sending so much love, bless you. xxx,” Dina Asher-Smith wrote.”You are already such a strong fighter! But sending you some extra strength and love 鉂わ笍 we鈥檙e all behind you,” American athlete and Olympian Nikki Hiltz wrote.Paris Olympics silver medalist Jessica Hull also offered her prayers and wrote:”Wow Ciara I am so sorry to hear this 鉂わ笍 we are thinking of you and sending you all the strength you need in these moments. You鈥檝e got this!”Screenshot of Instagram post.The two-time Olympic medalist Keely Hodgkinson chimed in:”Thinking of you! You got this 鉂わ笍鈥🩹”Screenshot of Instagram post.Femke Bol expresses her excitement for the upcoming World Athletics ChampionshipsFemke Bol at the European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Getty Images)Femke Bol recently expressed her excitement about competing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan, in September. Bol will compete at the National Stadium, where she secured her Olympic bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics.”I have good feelings,鈥 she said. “But every season is different. I just want to go out there and enjoy the races, give my best, and see where it brings me.鈥 (via Olympics.com)鈥淚 have good feelings about the stadium in Tokyo, where I won my Olympic bronze medal. I’m just looking forward to returning to it,鈥 she added.Femke Bol recently dominated the 400m at the 2025 European Athletics Team Championships 1st Division after clocking 49.48 seconds.