Former European champion and two-time Olympian Mageean dies aged 34

Ciara Mageean, a former European champion and two-time Olympian from Portaferry, Northern Ireland, has passed away at the age of 34. Mageean was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025 and sadly lost her battle with the disease, surrounded by her loved ones on a Sunday morning. Renowned for her courage and kindness, Mageean will be remembered for her incredible spirit.

Mageean made her mark in athletics by winning the 1500m gold at the European Championships in Rome in 2024, her first major title. Prior to that, she had represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, securing a silver medal in the 1500m. Mageean had also represented Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, but was unable to participate in the 2024 Paris Games due to an Achilles injury.

In a career marked by both triumphs and setbacks, Mageean had to withdraw from the 2012 London Olympics due to a serious ankle injury. She later won the Irish 1500m title in 2014 and claimed a European Indoor bronze in 2019. Despite obstacles like a calf injury during the Tokyo Games in 2021 and a failed attempt at the 2023 World Championships, Mageean secured her biggest win at the 2024 European Championships, winning the 1500m title in Rome with a time of 4:04.66.