In the women’s 1,500m finale at the European Athletics Championships held at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, gold was clinched by Ciara Mageean of Ireland. Silver went to Agathe Guilemot from France while Georgia Bell of Britain secured bronze. The athlete from Portaferry, Ireland, clocked in at 4.04.66, securing first place in a stunning finish. Despite being boxed in by British athletes Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell on the final bend, she managed to power through and claim the gold. Sarah Healy, another Irish contender, completed the race in seventh place with a time of 4.06.77. Mageean is no stranger to the podium; she has previously won silver two years ago in Munich and bronze in 2016 at these championships in the 1,500m event. At age 32, Mageean entered the final with a confident mindset, stating after her successful qualifier, that she was prepared for any tactics deployed. Being a 3:55 runner with a recent personal best at 800 metres, she knew she had the speed. The championship brought different kind of expectation, as she went from an underdog to a favourite. This shift brought its own pressures, but none more significant than those she put on herself, for her it would be the ultimate dream to hear Ireland’s national anthem play in the Stadio Olimpico.
