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Mark English celebrates with his gold medal. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
From The 42Athletics
He's done it! Mark English wins 800m gold at European Athletics Championships
The Donegal 33-year-old has become Ireland’s first male European champion.
IRELAND’S MARK ENGLISH has won 800m gold at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
English clocked 1:45.26 to win his sixth European track medal – and first gold – at Alexander Stadium.
The Donegal 33-year-old becomes Ireland’s first male European champion.
It's gold for Mark English!
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 13, 2026
History for Ireland, history for Mark English as he comes out on top in the men’s 800m final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham. pic.twitter.com/ILGnmBz009
English ran a superb race, and powered home, with Croatia’s Marino Bloudek securing silver in 1:45.62 and Spain’s Mohamed Attaoui taking bronze in 1:45.71.
One of the other medal contenders, Great Britain’s Mark Burgin, withdrew just before the final.
English won both his heat and final, the latter in 1:43.49 which broke a 48-year-old championship record.
More to follow
Written by Emma Duffy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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