Radcliffe ‘heartbroken’ for Mageean after Olympics withdrawal

Former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe says she is “heartbroken” for Ciara Mageean after the European champion was forced to withdraw from the Olympic Games.

Team Ireland athlete Mageean was set to compete in the 1500m heats on Tuesday morning but pulled out on the eve of her opening race because of a recent “chronic” Achilles problem.

It is the latest Olympic heartbreak for the 32-year-old, who narrowly missed out on the 1500m final in 2016 and exited at the heats stage in Tokyo following a calf injury sustained a week before her race.

Radcliffe, who was hampered by injury at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, said it would have been a “tough, tough decision” to pull out.

“I know the form she was in and what she wanted to do at these Games,” Radcliffe told BBC Sport.

“I’ve seen some of the results this year and she has been struggling with that injury. Making the decision to pull out is a tough one for an athlete to do – particularly at the Olympic Games.

“Having a four-year wait for the next one, it doesn’t take away from the talented athlete that she is.”

Radcliffe, who held the world record for the women’s marathon for 16 years, was one of Great Britain’s top athletes who never enjoyed the best of fortune at Olympic Games.

She abandoned the 2004 Olympic marathon after 22 miles following a pre-Games injury, before experiencing more physical problems leading up to Beijing 2008 and later being forced to miss London 2012 with a foot injury.

Mageean has had similar poor luck with injuries ahead of the Olympics, and Radcliffe believes that she should channel her frustrations into her recovery.

The Achilles issue comes after Mageean won European Championships gold at the start of June.

“It is tough. Every athlete has their own way of dealing with that trauma. I like to deal with it and get it out there,” Radcliffe said.

“You cry, there’s a lot of frustration. When she is healthy she can go out and start to really smash it in training and put that frustration out there.

“Then you come back, at the next opportunity to get back into racing and show what kind of a class quality athlete she is.

“She knows the type of athlete that she is and she knows what she can produce when she is right.

“She has to go away now. Get all of that emotion out and come back strong for next year.”

After her own heartbreak at the 2004 Olympics, Radcliffe bounced back to win marathon gold at the World Championships the following year.

The 50-year-old said Mageean should target the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo to showcase her abilities on the world stage.

“We’re lucky that those championships do come around,” Radcliffe said.

“She knows that. It gives her a chance to get fully healthy and come back to show what she can do at the World Championships.

“It’s always tough for an athlete who is in good shape and in the prime of their career.

“Yes, it is the Olympic Games, but in essence those very same athletes will be racing at World Championship level.

“So focus on that, focus on doing the very best that you can and be fit and healthy by not taking risks out here at the Olympics.”

Sophie O’Sullivan, daughter of former Olympic medallist Sonia, said she was sending Mageean “some love” after her withdrawal.

O’Sullivan narrowly missed out on an automatic place for the semi-finals after finishing seventh in her heat on her Olympic debut.

Mageean was set to join O’Sullivan and Sarah Healy, who also finished seventh in the second heat and will fall into the repechage race in a bid to make the semi-finals.

“I was really sad about Ciara,” said O’Sullivan, 22.

“She’s had a really good last year or two and I was excited to see her run.

“It’s disappointing she couldn’t get out there. I really feel for her and I send her some love.

“I wanted to make the next round for her, but it wasn’t to be. I hope she’s doing all right.”