Ciara Mageean 1500m: European Bronze Medalist & Olympian Ciara Mageean Blue Ribbon Event: 1500m Track and Field Athlete, the 25-year-old hails from Portaferry, County Down Achievements: 2016 European Bronze medallist and made her Olympic debut at the Rio Olympic Games. World & European Junior Medallist. Irish Indoor 1500m & Mile record holder Bounce Backability: Severely-hampered by an ankle injury she was unable to compete or train over a two-year period but came back after surgery stronger than ever GAA: Loved playing camogie and her dad played for Portafrry, Down and Ulster Physiotherapist: Recently qualified from UCD as a physiotherapist Women in Sport: An advocate for giving girls equal opportunities to take part in and enjoy sport and is a real supporter of all women pursuing excellence whether it be the national game or on the International stage Get Active: Firm believer that movement is the key to life and exercise is the miracle drug that can treat many ailments. Ciara’s mantra is to find an activity you enjoy and to get out and get active! Multiple Championship Opportunities: World & European Indoor and Outdoor Championships and European Cross Country (women’s team) Social Media Reach Twitter FacebookInstagram Ciara Mageean Ciara showed real talented from a young age, breaking Sonia O’Sulliavan’s underage records and winning silver in the 800m at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Sudtirol, Italy in 2009. She won a silver in the 1500 metres final at the World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada in 2010. She followed this up with success as a Junior competing in the 1500m at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. She took silver at the European Junior Track & Field Championships in Tallin, Estonia, 2011. Injury cruelly interrupted her blossoming career in 2012 and she was diagnosed as a Calcaneal Spur on her left ankle, an injury that eventually required surgery and lengthy rehab. She was unable to compete or train over a two-year period but she preserved and came back after surgery stronger than ever! At the European Athletics Championships in 2016, Ciara won a bronze medal becoming the third ever Irish woman ever to medal at the championships. She made her Olympic debut in August 2016 in Rio, making it to the semi-final stages. In August, she set a new personal best in the 1500m of 4:01.46 at the Diamond League in Paris. The result moved Mageean up to second on the Irish all-time list, behind Sonia O’Sullivan.Early in 2016 Mageean set a new Irish indoor 1500m 4.08.66 and mile record 4.28.40 Ciara has recently qualified as a physiotherapist having studied in UCD over the last number of years. She has always had equal focus on her academics and athletics career as she is aware she can’t be a runner for the rest of her life and she is very passionate about physiotherapy. Ciara also has a passion for camogie, it was her first love. She always has a hurl and sliotar in the boot as she finds having a puc about is a good way to relax. Ciara in the Media Irish Times: Ireland’s Ciara Mageean wins bronze at European Championships: So close to silver – joins Sonia O’Sullivan and Derval O’Rourke on European podium Irish Independent VIDEO: Epic final straight from Ireland’s Ciara Mageean earns European Championships bronze medal