Olympic bronze medal and world champion despite cancer: tennis star makes shock diagnosis public

Ottawa (Canada) - How strong must this woman be? In April 2024 , tennis star Gabriela Dabrowski (32) received the shocking diagnosis of breast cancer. And yet, months later, she was on top form - in the midst of treatment - and won bronze at the Summer Olympics in Paris, even becoming world champion at the end of the year.

In November, Gabriela Dabrowski (32, right) won the world doubles title with her partner Erin Routliffe (29, left).
In November, Gabriela Dabrowski (32, right) won the world doubles title with her partner Erin Routliffe (29, left).  © IMAGO / NurPhoto

On New Year's Day 2025, she decided to make her illness public on Instagram because "early detection saves lives", the Canadian knows.

Her story is moving, as she discovered a lump in her breast herself in the spring of 2023. A few months later, a doctor certified that there was no cause for concern.

A year later, "Gaby", as everyone calls her, had the feeling that the lump had grown larger. During the annual World Tennis Association (WTA) seasonal check-ups, a doctor told her that she wasn't sure what it was in her breast and that she should have a mammogram.

This and other examinations finally revealed the tragic diagnosis. But the tennis star emphasizes: "I am okay, and I will be okay."

Dabrowski underwent two operations, began radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Meanwhile, she continued to train and delayed some treatments in order to be able to take part in the Olympic Games.

Gabriela Dabrowski kept her cancer a secret for months

At the Summer Olympics in Paris, Dabrowski won bronze in the mixed competition alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime (24). She even interrupted her therapy to do so.
At the Summer Olympics in Paris, Dabrowski won bronze in the mixed competition alongside Felix Auger-Aliassime (24). She even interrupted her therapy to do so.  © IMAGO / justpictures.ch

She then won bronze in the mixed competition with Felix Auger-Aliassime (24).

On the way there, her coach even had to throw the ball up to her when she was serving, as she was unable to stretch her left arm high enough due to the operations. The fact that she even won the doubles title alongside New Zealander Erin Routliffe (29) at the World Championships at the end of the year was "surreal", as she herself writes.

At first, she was not prepared to make her diagnosis public. She would have focused on a small circle that stood by her side. Now, however, she realized how privileged she was to be able to tell her story publicly; millions of people were fighting and suffering in silence.

Cancer taught her what was really important. "It was only when the threat of losing everything I had always worked for seemed real that I really began to appreciate what I had," she admits.

An inspiring story that is far from over, as Gabriela Dabrowski wants to continue celebrating successes and educating people about early cancer detection.