Rachel McCann
Athletics
BIOGRAPHY
Rachel McCann represented Ireland as part of the women’s 4×400 metres relay squad at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Ireland finished 4th in the final in a national record of 3:19.90 – missing bronze by just 0.18 seconds.
McCann was a squad member for both the women’s and mixed relay pools but did not run in the competition rounds. From Bangor, Co. Down, she attended Sullivan Upper School in Holywood – the same school as Rory McIlroy and hockey Olympian Michael Robson – before studying pharmaceutical science at Queen’s University Belfast on an athletics scholarship. She juggled her final year exams and Olympic qualification simultaneously, with Queen’s arranging to move her research project deadline and exam dates to accommodate major championships.
She joined an athletics club at the age of 11 upon starting secondary school, having played hockey and studied ballet in her younger years. She anchored the Irish women’s 4×400 metres team to fifth place at the European Under-20 Championships in 2019. She is coached by Michael Roberts and trained with strength and conditioning coach Amy Foster.
OTHER ATHLETICS ATHLETES
ATHLETICS NEWS
IN THE NEWS – JUNE 2ND 2026
In another strong weekend of results, Irish athletes delivered on the world stage. Rowing: Three Medals for Ireland at World Rowing Cup I Rowing Ireland made an impressive start to the international season at World Rowing Cup I, returning from Seville with three medals and a series of strong early‑season performances across the squad. Medal [...]
IN THE NEWS – MAY 25TH 2026
In the News – Team Ireland Round‑Up 25th May 2026 Irish athletes delivered standout performances across multiple sports this week, with personal bests, podium finishes and major milestones on the international stage. Sailing A superb week in Croatia saw Eve McMahon win U23 gold and finish fourth overall at the ILCA European Championships. In the [...]
In The News – May 18th 2026
Athletics Mark English made history with a landmark performance in the 800m, surging to victory in a meeting record time of 1:43.85 at the Shanghai Diamond League. The Donegal athlete becomes the first Irish male to win a Diamond League race, adding his name to a growing list of Irish winners on the circuit alongside [...]
Dan Kennedy RIP
Today, a man whose guidance helped shape generations of Irish athletes, including several Olympians, was laid to rest. Dan Kennedy, known to most simply as “DK”, was far more than a PE teacher. He was a mentor, innovator, coach and trusted voice whose influence stretched quietly but profoundly across Irish sport for more than five [...]
Events coming up in May 2026
Athletics 2-3 May: World Athletics Relays, Gaborone, Botswana Boxing 3-10 May: Feliks Stamm Tournament, Warsaw, Poland Canoeing 29-31 May: Canoe Slalom World Cup 1, Ljubljana, Slovenia Cycling 1-3 May: Downhill & Cross-country Olympic World Series round 1, South Korea 22-24 May: Rás Tailteann, Ireland 22-24 May: Cross Country World Series, Czech Republic [...]
In The News – May 5th 2026
Athletics Irish Women’s 4x400m Team Qualify for 2027 World Athletics Championships The Irish Women’s 4x400m relay team produced a hugely impressive performance on Day Two of the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, securing qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. The quartet of Rachel McCann (North Down AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock [...]