Some things come along and just rock you and I felt this way when I learned of the death of the 41-year-old dual Commonwealth Games gold medalist Kerryn McCann from breast cancer. Damn I get a tear in my eye as I write this, you see so many tales of extrodanary feats but as an Ozzie when

she won gold in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006. i cheered for a bloody great effort by a real person her victory rightly taking its place as a great moment in Australia’s history.

Tributes have been paid to the humility and unassuming character of marathon runner Kerry at her funeral her death leaves behind husband Greg and children Benton (11), Josie (5) and Cooper (14 months).

McCann was diagnosed last year while she was pregnant but held off having treatment until Cooper was born.

Former Olympian and breast cancer survivor Raelene Boyle and long distance runners Steve Moneghetti and Craig Mottram were among the mourners.

Husband Greg delivered the eulogy,his hurt apparent by his statements of heartfelt descriptions of his champion wife of 17-and-a-half years,

the memory of a vibrant,sweetest person I ever met

Photo: Danielle Smith

there was a short time there we had absolutely everything. We couldn’t have wanted any more.”

He said she made sure their family was OK before she died.

“Just before 20 past 11 at night she said goodbye. She was so exhuasted but she never gave in,” he said.

Kerry has been an inspiration to many Australians and Australian athletes… she will continue to be an inspiration,

her legacy stretched beyond the track and pavement, for mothers across Australia, Kerryn McCann was their athlete

all mourn the loss of a wonderful wife and mother, a champion athlete and a truly great Australian.”

Sprint star Raelene Boyle, a breast cancer survivor herself, said her friend was as brave in life as she was in running

She said she spoke to McCann just a week ago and the mother of three was still speaking hopefully of making progress

against her aggressive form of breast cancer. “She wanted to win,” Boyle said.
McCann was diagnosed with breast cancer in August last year while she was pregnant with her third child.

McCann noticed the lump in her breast months before she did anything about it

She had a 2.5cm lump removed from her right breast when she was 31 weeks pregnant, but McCann delayed having chemotherapy until after the birth of her son Cooper Patrick.

She underwent an 18-week course of chemotherapy after the birth, with her treatment ending in January this year.

Soon after McCann was diagnosed with secondary cancer in her liver.

McCann won the hearts of Australia

McCann’s marathon win was judged the most memorable moment of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and made into a stamp.

McCann was aged 38 when she provided one of the dramatic highlights of Melbourne’s 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Exchanging the lead several times with Kenyan Hellen Cherono Koskei as they approached the MCG, McCann hit the front and entered the stadium to a massive roar from the crowd.

As the pair battled the final stretch around the stadium, McCann lost the lead before summoning an inspiring home straight burst to eclipse Koskei and snatch victory by two seconds.

She described it as “probably the greatest victory I’ve ever had, or the greatest race I’ve ever run”.

She also won gold in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and represented Australia in the event at three Olympic Games.

When McCann revealed last year that she had beaten breast cancer after it was detected during her third pregnancy.

“The surgeon was confident he got it all and he was right. It’s fantastic news,” McCann told New Idea in October 2007.

However, in September of this year, her husband said his wife was undergoing a “few problems”.

Leaving you with a statment from Kerry do you think she stepped up to the start line, Oh people be bold, you do not know when the sand empty’s from the hour glass of our time here, step up to the start line now

But you ride with it. Yes, it’s just the way it had to be

Kerryn McCann Marathon Ispiration dead at 41

McCann won the hearts of Australia

But you ride with it. Yes, it’s just the way it had to be