Aussie’s tribute to ‘truly remarkable’ rival dead at 34
European 1500 metre champion and two-time Olympian Ciara Mageean has died at the age of 34, just over a year after revealing she had stage four bowel cancer.
The Irish athlete announced in July 2025 that she had been diagnosed with the disease.
Australia’s Jess Hull (left) celebrates with Ciara Mageean (right) of Team Ireland during 2023. Valerio Pennicino
“At 6.30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones,” a statement on Mageean’s Instagram account said on Sunday
"A beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, she will be deeply missed."
Aussie middle-distance champion Jess Hull paid tribute to her former running rival.
“A truly remarkable woman gone way too soon,” Hull posted to Instagram, followed by several photos of the pair competing.
Mageean’s career highlight came in 2024 when she won European 1500m gold in Rome.
She represented Ireland at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics but was ruled out of the Paris Games with an Achilles injury a day before her opening heat.
Alongside her European title, Mageean won European bronze in 2016 and silver in 2022, while also claiming silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
