Alice Magnell Millán Triumphantly Returns After Battling Severe Illness

Alice Magnell Millán, 19, was so ill that she could neither walk nor eat. But now, one of Sweden's top running talents is back in full force. "It means everything to me," she says.

The 1500-meter race at the Bauhaus Gala became a showdown between Saga Provci and Carmen Cernjul. Provci was the stronger on the day, winning by two seconds ahead of the rising star Cernjul.

However, the most heartening result came from behind them. In her second outdoor 1500-meter race in four years, 19-year-old Alice Magnell Millán finished third with a time of 4:20.02.

"It's so fun to be back," she says while catching her breath.

"Right now, I feel like I'm truly on my way back. My body is starting to respond again. It's been many years without running, so I'm very grateful."

Talent Forced to Pause Career for Three Years

It wasn't a given that Magnell Millán would be here.

She broke through early, and by age 16, she had won three senior Swedish Championship medals in the 800 and 1500 meters. In 2020, she became the youngest Swedish Finnkampen participant in 49 years and set a personal best in the 800 meters as Sweden triumphed on the women's side.

Then came the problems.

Magnell Millán began experiencing headaches and high fever. She was taken to the hospital, where tests revealed she had meningitis caused by the chickenpox virus.

"I'm feeling better now, but it has been very tough days. I couldn't walk or eat, for example," she said after being discharged from the hospital.

But she couldn't bounce back as she had hoped. The illness left such a significant impact that Magnell Millán had to pause her career for three years to allow her body to recover.

"After the illness, there have been many complications. I've developed brain fatigue and chronic headaches," she tells Norrköpings Tidningar.

Last year, she quietly restarted her career, and now she's back in full training with good results.

Aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

At the indoor Swedish Championships last winter, she won silver in the 800 meters and followed it up with several victories in smaller competitions during the spring.

How have you managed to fight your way back here?

"It's been tough, but I've always kept my goal in sight and believed it would be possible. That's what has helped me."

Her time at the Bauhaus Gala was enough to qualify for this summer's U23 European Championships in Bergen, Norway.

"It means everything to me to be back at this level. It feels great."

The U23 European Championships are this summer's major event for her, but Magnell Millán has a bigger, future goal that keeps her motivated.

"The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, that's my dream and my motivation. I'm in this sport because I want to perform at the top level," she says.