Irish middle-distance runner Ciara Mageean, who won European gold and competed at two Olympic Games, has died aged 34, her family have announced.

The athlete, from Portaferry, Northern Ireland, died at 6.30am on Sunday. In a post on social media, her family said she was surrounded by her loved ones. They said: “A beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, she will be deeply missed.”

Mageean was one of the most high-profile athletes in Ireland, specialising in the 1500m event. She represented Ireland at both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as well as holding a slew of Irish records.

She went on to become the first individual Irish European champion since Sonia O’Sullivan when she struck gold at the 2024 championships in Rome. Mageean was unable to compete at the 2024 Olympics due to an achilles injury.

The following year, Mageean announced she had been diagnosed with cancer.…