'Ciara Mageean’s loss will be felt across the community' says World Athletics president
Ciara Mageean with her gold medal after winning the Women's 1500m final during day four of the 2024 European Athletics Championships at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe said the loss of Irish Olympian Ciara Mageean will be felt “across the athletics community” after learning of the former European 1500 metres champion’s death from cancer, aged 34.
The news was announced on Sunday morning in a post on the athlete’s official Instagram account and met with a flood of tributes from across the sporting community from athletes including Republic of Ireland football captain Katie McCabe and fellow Olympians Keely Hodgkinson and Dina Asher-Smith.
The announcement came just weeks after Mageean married her long-time partner, Thomas Moran, in a small Belfast civil ceremony and just a week after the pair celebrated with loved ones with a larger celebration at Darver Castle.
Lord Coe said: “It is with great sadness that we learned of Ciara’s passing this morning at such a young age. A European champion and inspiration to many, it is a sad day for our sport – her loss will be felt across the athletics community.
“On behalf of everyone at World Athletics and the wider athletics family, I send our sincere condolences to Ciara’s family and loved ones.”
The statement posted to Mageean’s Instagram account on Sunday read: “At 6:30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, she will be deeply missed.” It was followed by the Irish expression “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam”, meaning, “May her soul be at the right hand of God.” The news was met with heartbreak from her fellow athletes, who paid tribute in the comments.
Australian Olympic 1500m silver medallist Jess Hull wrote: “There are no words. Just the most beautiful person in every way imaginable.
“You will be so missed, our hearts and love are with Tommy and your family. Lucky to have shared some miles with you but even more special to have celebrated milestones at the finish line together, I’m so grateful for every moment, rest easy Ciara.”
Republic of Ireland footballer Amber Barrett wrote: “Devastated. A light of elegance and grace. Jesus Ciara, you’ve broken a nation. God rest your soul. I’m blessed to have had you in my life.”
Barrett’s team-mate and Republic captain Katie McCabe added on X: “Truly heartbreaking news to hear about Ciara this morning. Sending all my love and prayers to her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. We were so lucky to have such an incredible athlete represent our country with so much pride. May she rest in peace.”
Many, including Scottish distance runner Eilish McColgan, 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman and world 800m silver medallist Georgia Hunter Bell, left comments while others, including Hodgkinson, Asher-Smith and American skiing great Lindsey Vonn, expressed their feelings using emojis.
Both Athletics Ireland and British Athletics released statements.
Mageean, from Portaferry, County Down, competed at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She made history in 2024 by winning European 1500m gold in Rome, becoming just the second athlete after Sonia O’Sullivan to secure an individual European title for Ireland.
Speaking to the BBC’s GAA Social in July, Mageean revealed she had recently learned that the tumours had “increased in activity” and there were signs of cancer cells in one of her ribs.
She admitted “sometimes it gets a little harder to hold on to the hope”, but added: “Then I pick myself up and I shake myself off and remind myself there’s always some hope, so commence a new batch of treatment, continue to look forward to the things that I’m hoping to look forward to.
“Myself and Thomas are getting married in October. I’m not going to let this cancer get in the way of that.”
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