Former European champion in the 1,500 meters dies at 34 from cancer

Irish athlete Ciara Mageean, a former European champion in the 1500 meters, passed away at 34 due to bowel cancer. Her family announced her death, stating she lost her battle against cancer early this morning. Mageean represented Ireland in the Olympics in 2016 and 2020 but missed the 2024 Paris Games due to an Achilles tendon injury. She made history by winning gold at the 2024 European Championships in Rome, becoming only the second Irish athlete to achieve this feat. Additionally, she earned silver in the 2022 Europeans and bronze in 2016, along with a bronze medal at the 2019 Indoor European Championships. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2025.