IRISH ATHLETICS STAR Ciara Mageean is writing an autobiography, My Greatest Race, which will be published by Gill Books later this year.
The book, which will be in shops on 18 June, will cover Mageean’s colourful athletics career — from European glory to Olympic heartbreak — and her recent cancer journey.
Mageean announced last July that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning treatment. She provided an update last week, having undergone her 12th round of chemotherapy before Christmas.
“I still have a long road ahead but for now I’m continuing to find the joy in every day,” she wrote on social media.
Advertisement
The synopsis of Mageean’s upcoming book, which is written with freelance sports journalist Cliona Foley, reads: “Few Irish track athletes are as universally loved as Ciara Mageean, who has remained endearingly down-to-earth, candid and optimistic despite the dramatic twists and turns of her world-class career.
“In 2024 she finally won a European title, crossing the line to secure that gold medal in a moment of pure euphoria. Two months later, at the peak of her power, an excruciating injury derailed her once again, forcing an eleventh-hour withdrawal from the Paris Olympics.
“In the City of Love she went, overnight, from competitor to heartbroken tourist. Nothing, she thought, will ever be as bad as this… and then she got the worst news of her life.
“My Greatest Race is a sports memoir like no other, a devastating contrast between the elite athlete road that so few get to travel and the all-too-familiar cancer journey that so many do.”
Writing on Instagram, Mageean said: “This moment carries a lot of emotions, I’m proud to finally share, I’ve been working on a book, together with the brilliant Cliona Foley.
“My Greatest Race is the story I’ve always wanted to tell: the triumphs, the setbacks, and everything in between.
“I never imagined cancer would become part of that story, but life had other plans and we’ve worked hard to make this an honest and raw account of my path so far. In the middle of intensive treatment, this project has given me a real sense of purpose a reminder that hope, ambition, and joy still have a place in my life every single day.
“I’m very grateful to Gill Books for getting behind this idea when we approached them, and for helping us turn it into something meaningful.
“From chasing medals around the world, to the heartbreak of missing Paris, to discovering strength I never knew I had, this book reflects the highs, the lows, and the incredible people who continue to lift me up along the way.
“Your love and support mean more than I can ever express. I hope My Greatest Race offers comfort and inspiration to anyone facing challenges of their own.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
‘A sports memoir like no other’: Ciara Mageean’s autobiography to be published this summer
IRISH ATHLETICS STAR Ciara Mageean is writing an autobiography, My Greatest Race, which will be published by Gill Books later this year.
The book, which will be in shops on 18 June, will cover Mageean’s colourful athletics career — from European glory to Olympic heartbreak — and her recent cancer journey.
Mageean announced last July that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning treatment. She provided an update last week, having undergone her 12th round of chemotherapy before Christmas.
“I still have a long road ahead but for now I’m continuing to find the joy in every day,” she wrote on social media.
The synopsis of Mageean’s upcoming book, which is written with freelance sports journalist Cliona Foley, reads: “Few Irish track athletes are as universally loved as Ciara Mageean, who has remained endearingly down-to-earth, candid and optimistic despite the dramatic twists and turns of her world-class career.
“In 2024 she finally won a European title, crossing the line to secure that gold medal in a moment of pure euphoria. Two months later, at the peak of her power, an excruciating injury derailed her once again, forcing an eleventh-hour withdrawal from the Paris Olympics.
“In the City of Love she went, overnight, from competitor to heartbroken tourist. Nothing, she thought, will ever be as bad as this… and then she got the worst news of her life.
“My Greatest Race is a sports memoir like no other, a devastating contrast between the elite athlete road that so few get to travel and the all-too-familiar cancer journey that so many do.”
Writing on Instagram, Mageean said: “This moment carries a lot of emotions, I’m proud to finally share, I’ve been working on a book, together with the brilliant Cliona Foley.
“My Greatest Race is the story I’ve always wanted to tell: the triumphs, the setbacks, and everything in between.
“I never imagined cancer would become part of that story, but life had other plans and we’ve worked hard to make this an honest and raw account of my path so far. In the middle of intensive treatment, this project has given me a real sense of purpose a reminder that hope, ambition, and joy still have a place in my life every single day.
“I’m very grateful to Gill Books for getting behind this idea when we approached them, and for helping us turn it into something meaningful.
“From chasing medals around the world, to the heartbreak of missing Paris, to discovering strength I never knew I had, this book reflects the highs, the lows, and the incredible people who continue to lift me up along the way.
“Your love and support mean more than I can ever express. I hope My Greatest Race offers comfort and inspiration to anyone facing challenges of their own.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Athletics book Ciara Mageean none