©Holly Chisholm via Unsplash
Belgian Jilke Michielsen was well on her way to making it to the absolute top in women's cycling. After all, she collected Belgian titles in road, track and time trial. Until the harsh diagnosis of bone cancer shattered her sporting dreams at the age of just 16. But the nasty disease did not dampen the Fleming's resilience and positivity. Jilke passed away from the lingering illness last week at the age of 19, but her impact lives on forever in the memories of the many people she managed to touch with her courageous fight.
Jilke Michielsen spoke openly about her battle with bone cancer on her social media and in the press over the past few years. She did so in such a strong way that she inspired and made everyone think. The diagnosis of bone cancer, the rare Ewing sarcoma, may have meant an abrupt end to her elite athletic career. Still, she continued to radiate and spread hope and joy. "I want to share positive messages," Jilke shared her inspiring story in the press.
After her initial diagnosis in 2023, she didn't know how well she would be able to heal from the disease. And whether she would ever be able to turn pro at all. In the summer of 2024 came the redeeming news that she was cancer-free.
"You can't just give up and look down"
But the disease unfortunately returned to the young athlete in early 2025. This time, the then 18-year-old Belgian was told that chemo could only slow her down. She would not be able to recover and her illness was terminal.
"I see your enthusiasm and admire it. Still, what are your goals?" Belgian cycling commentator Karl Vannieuwkerke asked her when she was a guest on the cycling talk show Vive le vélo following her terminal diagnosis.
"Enjoying every moment I still have. I want to use the opportunities I get as much as possible. I want to share positive messages. You can't just give up and look down," she firmly said.
She even hesitated for a moment to finish her entrance exam in medicine. "Although there are things I would rather do than hide behind my books right now," she said, another an example of her mental strength and ambition to get as much as possible out of each moment.
Michielsen subsequently survived from chemotherapy to chemotherapy, until her body could no longer keep up. In recent weeks, she told the Flemish press how she prepared for her funeral, always with a bravery and awareness that left no one unmoved. It was announced on her Instagram page on May 15 that the sympathetic cycling champion had passed away.
©Holly Chisholm via Unsplash - illustration image