Wimbledon finalist Gabriela Dabrowski has revealed she faced the overwhelming challenge of playing in the 2024 season while battling breast cancer, a secret she had kept hidden until now.
The 32-year-old Canadian athlete shared her touching story in a poignant Instagram post, saying: “I know this will shock a lot of people, but I’m fine and I’ll be fine. Early detection saves lives.”
Dabrowski discovered a lump in the spring of 2023, only to be assured it was nothing to worry about at the time. However, a year later, follow-up exams confirmed her worst fears – she had cancer.
Unwilling to let her health dictate her career, Dabrowski withdrew from competition in April and May, but made a triumphant return in June, teaming up with Erin Routliffe to win their first tournament in Nottingham.
Prioritizing her passion for sport, she postponed treatment to compete at Wimbledon, where she and Routliffe finished as finalists, as well as the Olympics. Their remarkable run culminated in victory at the WTA Finals, allowing Dabrowski to rank as the third best doubles player in the world.
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In August, at the Olympic Games in Paris, Dabrowski added a bronze medal to his achievements by forming a team with Felix Auger-Aliassime in the mixed doubles event, beating their Dutch opponents in straight sets. She described it as “the experience of a lifetime.”
“It all seems surreal,” she expressed. “Why am I sharing my story now? For a long time, I wasn’t ready for the attention and questions that might follow. I wanted to work this out in private, with only those closest to me. those closest to me about what I was going through.”
“There were so many unknowns and so much to learn. Currently, I have a better understanding of my treatment, its side effects and how to manage them. My goal in sharing my experiences is to illustrate that it is possible to maintain quality of life when cancer is detected early Having access to qualified doctors and health professionals, ensuring one’s mental, physical and spiritual well-being, as well as having a strong support system are. essential.”
Looking to the future, Dabrowski and partner Routliffe are set to compete at the Australian Open to be held in January, where they are expected to be seeded number three.
