Sport
Mark English becomes Ireland’s first European 800m champion with Birmingham gold
Mark English became Ireland’s first men’s 800m champion at the European Athletics Championships on August 13, 2026, winning in Birmingham in 1:45.26. The 33-year-old passed Croatia’s Marino Bloudek in the final 100 metres, with Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui taking bronze. Britain’s Max Burgin withdrew after sustaining an injury during the warm-up. English, a trained doctor from Donegal, had already won European bronze in 2014 and 2022. Ireland secured another medal shortly afterwards as Rhasidat Adeleke finished second in the women’s 200m in a national-record 22.28, behind Britain’s Amy Hunt.