Paris Olympic bronze medalist and three-time Grand Slam champion Gabriela Dabrowski revealed on Instagram that she battled breast cancer throughout the 2024 tennis season. Diagnosed in April, the 32-year-old underwent two surgeries before briefly stepping away from the sport. She returned in June to claim the Rothesay Open Nottingham women’s doubles title with her partner Erin Routliffe.

Dabrowski paused treatment to compete at Wimbledon, where she and Routliffe finished as runners-up, and at the Paris Olympics, where she secured a bronze medal in mixed doubles. “It all seems surreal,” she wrote, emphasizing the significance of early detection in saving lives.

Canadian tennis player Gabriela Dabrowski on Aug. 5, in Toronto.

Her health concerns began in spring 2023 when she noticed a lump during a self-exam, but a doctor dismissed it as benign. A year later, a Women’s Tennis Association physician suggested further testing, leading to a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy that confirmed her diagnosis.

Dabrowski described her experience as transformative, calling herself privileged to be a survivor. She reflected on the challenges of navigating her diagnosis privately while learning about treatment and side effects. “I know how lucky I am because many do not get the luxury of being able to tell their story at all,” she shared.

The tennis star continues to raise awareness about the importance of self-exams and early intervention.