European champion and two-time Olympian Ciara Mageean dies aged 34
Ciara Mageean’s family announced the death of the Irish middle-distance runner, who won European 1500 metres gold in Rome in 2024. She was 34 and had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. Her career included two Olympic appearances and European and Commonwealth medals, alongside injuries that kept her out of the London and Paris Games.
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Family announces Mageean’s death
Ciara Mageean, the Irish middle-distance runner who won European 1500 metres gold in 2024, has died aged 34. Her family announced her death on Sunday. The athlete from Portaferry in Northern Ireland represented Ireland at two Olympic Games. Athletics Ireland, the national athletics governing body, offered condolences to her family and loved ones.[1], [2]
Mageean had been diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer. In October she married her long-term partner Thomas Moran at a small civil ceremony in Belfast. Her family said she died surrounded by loved ones.[1]
Rome gold follows years of championship medals
Her European title came in Rome, where she found a way through behind Georgia Bell and Jemma Reekie before winning the final. Earlier senior honours included European bronze in 2016 and European Indoor bronze in 2019. She took silver at both the European Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2022, then finished fourth at the 2023 World Championships.[1]
Injuries interrupt Olympic ambitions
Mageean’s junior career brought silver medals in the middle-distance event at the world championships in 2010 and European championships in 2011. An ankle injury kept her out of London 2012. After surgery in 2013, she returned to win the Irish title in 2014. She later competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, but an Achilles injury forced her to withdraw from Paris 2024.[1]
