Ciara Mageean, a two-time Olympian and Irish pro athlete, has died of cancer, her family announced. She was 34.
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"At 6:30 a.m. 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," her family wrote in the statement alongside a photo of Mageean triumphantly holding the Irish flag after winning Gold at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome.
Mageean was a national sports icon and later represented Irelans at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Games, according to World Athletics.
Mageean was a signature athlete with New Balance, who wrote a touching tribute on Instagram.
"For over a decade, Mageean inspired the New Balance family with her determination, kindness and infectious spirit.
"While we'll remember her many achievements, we'll miss the smiles, the energy, and the "craic" she brought to every room and every starting line even more.
The statement concluded, "Thank you, Ciara. You will never be forgotten."
Ciara Mageean Battled Cancer For Over a Year
Mageean announced via Instagram in July 2025 that she was diagnosed with cancer.
"To everyone who's been part of my journey so far, I have some difficult news to share: I've been diagnosed with cancer," she wrote.
"Right now, my focus is on healing and taking things one day at a time. I kindly ask that you respect my privacy and that of my loved ones as we move through this together. Your understanding means more than I can say,"
"Thank you for the love and strength. I'm ready to face this with the same fight I've always brought to the track,"
Mageean revealed in June that she was diagnosed specifically with Stage 4 bowel cancer in an interview with RTÉ.
"My colorectal surgeon told me it was stage four. That the cancer was in my bowel and was quite significant in my bowel," she told the outlet. "It had spread to my liver and was quite significant in my liver. And there was a small amount in my lungs."
The Olympian runner shared that doctors gave her a prognosis of "two to three years" to live.
"I'm hopeful that I get to live into old age but the odds are stacked against me and that's really, really hard," she added.
Per BBC, Mageean married her longtime partner on Oct. 12 in Northern Ireland. The newlyweds celebrated their union amongst friends and family on Oct. 25, one week before her death.
Simon Harris, Ireland's deputy prime minister, also described Mageean as an "extraordinary" person in a
