Ciara Mageean magic inspiring a new audience

For Ciara Mageean, some of the praise coming her way doesn't feel quite right.

Her incredible performance in winning silver in the 1500m last week – pushing the formidable Laura Muir all the way in an absorbing final lap – will sit along the bronze collected in 2016.

In between those two feats, by her own admission, the road has been rocky at times.

Two disappointing Olympic outings – particularly Tokyo where a calf injury on the eve of the Games hampered her performance significantly – injuries and Covid interruptions at a crucial part of her career means the Portaferry woman has even greater appreciation for the highs when they come along.

For all the setbacks, there was never any question of packing it all in. In fact the 30-year-old doesn’t feel the praise heaped on her for sticking with the sport is even merited.

"It didn’t occur to me to give up. It wasn’t a battle, because I never thought of stopping," she told RTÉ Sport when asked if the younger version of her would have coped so well with such adversity.

"The 22-year-old Ciara was injured and she didn’t stop, it didn’t faze her and she kept going. Maybe it’s a little in-built resilience that I do have.

"Of course the years of racing, the ups and the downs, it gives me a lot more to reflect on. I realise my opportunities at major champs are more limited now. I’m not a young athlete. I have to take every opportunity I get."

The decision to stay away from the World Championships to focus on the Commonwealth Games and Europeans was fully vindicated.

SILVER FOR MAGEEAN - 'This is the best she has ever run in the championship!' @CiaraMageean takes a silver medal with a magnificent run at the European Championships 1500m, GB's Laura Muir taking gold