In June, Ciara Mageean, an Athletics superstar from Ireland, deservedly secured the Irish Times/Sport Ireland Sportswoman Award. Her exceptional win of the gold medal at the European Championships didn’t just cement her place in Irish sports’ hall of fame. It also gave us one of the year’s most memorable quotes when facing a challenging moment in the race, she said, “While I found myself trapped, I realised ‘Goodness me, I have all the energy but no room to manoeuvre’. Yet, I didn’t spend my youth in camogie to be cornered.”
Finalising the race, Mageean’s resolute stride for the gold revealed her dominance and meticulous timing. She stormed to the front on Stadio Olimpico’s home straight to win the 1,500m in the European Championship on a particularly warm Sunday night in June.
Although her season is still in progress, this remarkable accomplishment has justifiably granted Mageean the Sportswoman of the Month accolade for June.
We can’t forget what occurred in a phenomenal 48 hours at the European Championships. Following the mixed 4x400m relay team’s victory – made up of Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr, and Sharlene Mawdsley – and earning only the second gold for Ireland in the games’ 90-year history, Mageean found herself in the ultra-elite circle – as one of only two individuals in the country’s history who have amassed a gold medal at these Games.
The 32-year-old from Portaferry has been committed to major championships for the past decade, and her widespread popularity is compelling evidence of her relentless competitive nature. With her victory, Mageean asserted her unquestionable dominance in her field and celebrated in perfect fashion at the finish line.
In the championship finals, the three and three-quarter lap races always offer a captivating strategy game, and Rome was no deviation from the norm. Mageean delivered an exceptional performance, taking the lead only when it was most critical. Her winning time was 4:04.66, just ahead of Britain’s Georgia Bell, who managed 4:05.33.
“I was aware of the capabilities of my legs,” shared Mageean later, “I felt positive, very positive. Situations often change, and I kept assuring myself not to worry. The opportunity would present itself, and I was focused on seizing it when there were 100 metres left”.
Seize it she did indeed. Till the last lap, the race was tightly compact, with the British pair of Bell and Jemma Reekie showing powerful performances. Meanwhile, Mageean waited for her moment. When on the final turn and the home stretch, she displayed her flare, surpassing the British pair. France’s Agathe Guillemot also advanced to third place, leaving Reekie to slide to fifth in 4:06.17.
Mageean had not kept her aspiration to be at the top of the medal stand a secret. She knew exactly what needed to be done, already having won silver and bronze in Munich and 2016 respectively.
She had also experienced disappointment, missing out on top spots and landing fourth behind Britain’s Laura Muir in 2018 and at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest the following year. However, her performance had seen improvement when she beat her own Irish 1,500m record with a timing of 3:55.87, finishing second to Laura Muir at the Brussels Diamond League, who won with 3:55.84. This record was first bested by Mageean in 2022, an achievement previously held by O’Sullivan since 1995 with a time of 3:58.85.
Following a fruitful juvenile career, many had anticipated Mageean to tread the same path as O’Sullivan – a notion she held in high regard despite the accompanying heightened expectations. She has faced numerous adversities, one of which was a serious ankle injury as she transitioned from the junior level. However, with Jerry Kiernan, her late coach, offered her immense support during those challenging times.
Currently, Mageean resides in Manchester where she trains with the New Balance team. Her accomplishments include a bronze medal at the 2019 European Indoor Glasgow, a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games representing Northern Ireland, and a silver medal at the 2010 World Under-20 Championships. All these achievements, over the 1,500m distance, now secures her spot as the second highest honoured Irish long-distance runner, trailing only O’Sullivan.
A month prior to Rome, she improved her personal best 800m national record to 1:58.81, thereby becoming the first Irish female runner to break the 1:59 mark. This achievement near her Manchester training base significantly bolstered her confidence.
Despite clocking the quickest time of 3:55.87 in the 13-woman final in Rome (where Muir did not participate), she also demonstrated strong resolve to defeat all her opponents.
The onset of 2024 was somewhat shaky for Mageean, as she skipped the entire indoor season when her pre-Christmas training suffered a slight mishap. However, she emerged victorious at the 5km parkrun in Victoria Park, Belfast on 23rd December – setting a record of 15 minutes and 13 seconds, the fastest parkrun by a woman globally at the time – despite interrupting her training for a few weeks due to a hamstring strain.
Mageean frequently mentions how the influence of her late coach Kiernan, who had been instrumental during her transition from the junior level, especially when dealing with a problematic ankle bone spur, has been a source of courage for her.
Reflecting on Kiernan, who passed away suddenly at the age of 67 in January 2021, Mageean said, “Jerry was an incredibly sagacious man. His faith in me, especially now as I run in my 30s, has been invaluable.”
I also hold the conviction that the arduous seasons of my career, grappling with injuries, facing obstacles, and not representing Ireland for numerous years have culminated in my thick-skinned nature which has shaped me into the sportsperson I am in this present day.
Rewards have been allocated monthly to the following sportswomen: Fionnuala McCormack was the recipient in December for her achievements in athletics. Mona McSharry secured the accolade in February for her swimming exploits. In March, the award went to Rachael Blackmore for her contributions in horse racing. April saw Róisín Ní Riain being applauded for her swimming feats.