Athlete Ciara Mageean, European 1,500 meters champion, dies at 34

The Irish athlete Ciara Mageean, European 1,500 meters champion in 2024, died this Sunday at the age of 34, a victim of intestinal cancer that was diagnosed, in stage four, in May 2025, her family confirmed this Sunday in a statement.

"At 6:30 this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer, surrounded by her loved ones. A very dear daughter, sister, wife and friend, as well as a source of inspiration to many. She will be deeply missed. May her soul rest in peace," the statement said.

Mageean represented Ireland at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but was unable to participate in Paris 2024 due to an Achilles tendon injury. Before, in 2024, he achieved the first major title of his career by winning the gold medal in the 1,500 meters final of the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

In the same event, she won a silver at the European Championships in Munich 2022 and a bronze at the European Championships in Amsterdam 2016, in addition to another bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow 2019. In 2023, she fell short of the podium by finishing fourth at the World Championships in Budapest.