Ciara Mageean, European champion and Olympian, dies aged 34 after celebrated career

Tributes after her death

Athletics Ireland said it was heartbroken by Mageean’s death and praised her courage, kindness and spirit. The organisation said she had inspired many people and would be deeply missed.

Olympic and Commonwealth career

Mageean represented Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. At the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, a calf injury disrupted her preparations, and she did not advance beyond the heats.

She had to withdraw from the 2024 Paris Olympics because of an Achilles injury. Competing for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, she earned silver in the 1500m at Birmingham in 2022.

A career of major victories

Mageean won 1500m silver at the 2010 World Junior Championships and the 2011 European Junior Championships. At 18, she also reached the 1500m final at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

After surgery in 2013, she returned to win the Irish 1500m title in July 2014. In 2017, she moved from Dublin to Manchester to join Steve Vernon’s Team New Balance after separating from coach Jerry Kiernan.

At the 2024 European Championships in Rome, Mageean claimed the biggest victory of her career. She also won the 1500m at Diamond League Brussels in 3:56.63, setting an Irish record, and was named BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year in 2023.