Ciara Mageean, a former European champion who ran for Ireland at two Olympics, has died aged 34, the BBC reported. A statement on her social media said she died at 6.30am on Sunday, surrounded by her loved ones. It described her as "a beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many".
Mageean came from Portaferry in Northern Ireland. She was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025. In October, she married her long-term partner Thomas Moran in a small civil ceremony in Belfast, according to the BBC.
Athletics Ireland said it was "heartbroken". The federation said she would be remembered for her courage, kindness and spirit. It sent its sympathies to her family and friends.
Her biggest win came at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. In the 1500m final, she was boxed in behind Britain's Georgia Bell and Jemma Reekie. She found a gap and won in 4:04.66. It was the first major title of her career. Weeks later, an Achilles injury forced her out of the Paris Olympics on the eve of her heat.
She competed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. In Rio, she went out in the 1500m semi-finals. A calf injury disrupted her preparation for Tokyo, where she exited in the heats. A serious ankle injury had earlier ended her hopes of competing at the London 2012 Games.
Mageean broke several of Sonia O'Sullivan's Irish records. In 2020, she ran 2:31.06 over 1,000m in Monaco. In 2022, she beat Laura Muir at the Brussels Diamond League in 3:56.63, her first run under four minutes. That year she also took European and Commonwealth 1500m silver behind Muir.
She finished fourth at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. That year she was also named BBC Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year. After her diagnosis, she told the BBC she was "grateful" for a career "that many others didn't get to have".