Ciara Mageean

I'd say not to blow my own trumpet because it's nothing that I actually work towards, I think, to compete at the highest level of many Olympic sports.

Yeah.

there has to be a genetic component to it that you have these skills.

Now, I don't know what it is.

Like I grew up in a house, I have four siblings and the other three aren't Olympians.

So whatever way the genes came together to make me, both physically and mentally, because the mental component to be a world-class athlete, I know so many people who have had the talent, but not lasted to be able to reach the highest level.

Yeah, certainly whenever it comes to the crunch time.

And probably, like people would often say, I'm a very resilient person, very tough.

I joke and say it's just brute ignorance that I never would have thought to give up throughout all of the struggles I had throughout my sport.

But yeah, there's a certain raw element.

And then once you have that, it's up to you.

to pursue it and work hard.

And that's probably where I said the blessing and the curse, because it's an absolute joy and a privilege to be able to have the talent that you can try to utilise and go out there and represent your country at the highest level.

It also comes with a huge amount of pressure, both from your nation, but probably more so for me, for myself.

And at times, it's not fun.

As much as everybody would love to be an elite athlete whenever you're in it, like any job, people could say, it's tough.

And dealing with those highs and lows so publicly is an extremely hard thing to do.

And race day is terrifying.

And accelerating and so wonderful.

I can remember having a race and Dave Gillick was... It was approaching the end of his career and he was like, you looked... I saw you pushing about your egg this morning on the plate.