'I'm determined to be there' — Ciara Mageean very motivated to compete in 2028 LA Olympics

has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the crushing disappointment of missing out on the through injury.

The Northern Ireland 1500m specialist pulled out on the eve of her heat in France in August with painful chronic Achilles issues.

Triple Olympics champion Gabby Thomas has hit out at fans who criticize athletes over their dietary choices, especially when they indulged in sugary stuff that many consider unhealthy.

The 32-year-old is continuing with her recovery from surgery and focuses on new goals, including potentially taking in the next Olympics in .

«I have a long road of recovery ahead,» Mageean told BBC. «Four years is a long time. I’m 32. I’ll be 36 at the next Olympic Games but all I can say is I’m very motivated for it. I’m determined to be there. I don’t know what the path ahead will hold but I’ll be giving it absolutely everything to toe that line, fit and healthy, and be able to finally have an Olympic Games that I can walk away proud of.»

Elaine Thompson-Herah looks like she has heeded to former coach Stephen Francis' advice with regards to a new training base if she is to get back to the heights of challenging for global medals.

Mageean’s enforced withdrawal was the latest chapter in a number of Olympic heartbreaks for the athlete. The County Down woman narrowly missed out on a place in the final of her event in 2016 and a calf injury a week before her heat in the delayed Tokyo Games saw her eliminated at the first time of asking.

This year, she won the 1500m at the European Championships in Rome in June, but had struggled for form in the Diamond League events in Monaco and Paris in the build-up to the Games. «I’ve been managing an ankle issue for years, this is not a new occurrence for me,» explained Mageean.