Ciara Mageean has won gold at the European Athletics Championships in Rome following a magnificent performance in the women's 1,500-meter final on Sunday night.
Mageean claimed gold in a time of 4:04.66, collecting her third European outdoor medal after winning bronze in Amsterdam in 2016 and silver in Munich in 2022.
In a heartwarming interview after Sunday's race, Mageean said words "can't even come close" to describing her emotions.
"Everybody back home knows how long I've been doing this and how hard I've been trying," Mageean told RTÉ Sport after the race. "I've had so many times when I've not felt how I'm feeling today."
In a closely contested final, Mageean managed to find a gap between British pair Jemma Reekie and Georgia Bell and held on impressively to take the gold medal.
Sarah Healy, the other Irish competitor in the field, finished seventh in the event after clocking a time of 4:06.77.
Mageean paid tribute to her camogie roots, stating that her ability to find space on the pitch served her well during Sunday's final.
"I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in," she said. "I want to thank everybody who has helped get here today to win my first senior gold medal for Ireland, to be at the top of the podium and hear our national anthem, and to show world athletics that the Irish are here."
"I didn't grow up playing camogie to get boxed in."
Ciara Mageean gives her reaction to @DavidGillick after winning GOLD 🥇 in the women's 1500m Final at the European Athletics Championships☘️ #Roma2024 pic.twitter.com/kIynFPW0WV
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 9, 2024
It is Ireland's second gold medal at the European Athletics Championships after the quarter of Thomas Barr, Rhasidat Adeleke, Christopher O'Donnell, and Sharlene Mawdsley made history in the 4x400m mixed relay event on Friday night, claiming Ireland's first gold at the European Atheltics Championships since 1998.
Adeleke has since won her 400-meter semi-final to qualify for Monday's final, while Mawdsley also qualified for Monday's final after finishing second in her semi-final.
Comments