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
Historic 4th place finish from Estella Volkoff in European Beam Final
Gymnastics Irish junior gymnast Estella Volkoff delivered a landmark performance at the 2026 European Junior Championships in Zagreb, finishing fourth in the balance beam final and making history as the first Irish gymnast ever to qualify for a top-eight European Championships beam final. Volkoff produced a superb routine in the final, narrowly missing out on [...]
Performance Round Up July 2026
Athletics LONDON DIAMOND LEAGUE Mark English delivered one of the finest performances of his career as he smashed his 800m personal best to finish second at the London Diamond League on Saturday. The Donegal athlete clocked a stunning 1:42.97, dipping below the 1:43 mark for the first time and becoming just the latest Irish athlete [...]
EVENTS COMING UP IN AUGUST
Athletics World U20 Championships, Eugene, Oregon: 5-9 August European Athletics Championships, Birmingham: 10-16 August Lausanne Diamond League: 20-21 August Silesia Diamond League: 23 August Zurich Diamond League: 27 August Boxing European U19 Championships, Loznica, Serbia: 11-22 August Boxing Ireland U23 Championships, 7-22 August Cycling UEC Mountain Bike European Championships, Monteceneri, Switzerland: 30 July [...]
Irish Sailing and Rugby Sevens Shine in Action-Packed Weekend
Sailing McMahon Claims Sailing Bronze in California Eve McMahon secured a superb bronze medal at the Sailing Grand Slam event in San Pedro, California, after a composed performance in the Final Series against some of the world's best Olympic sailors. Racing took place in ideal conditions inside the bay, with 10–13 knots of breeze providing [...]
Diamond League Podiums In London for Mark English & Sarah Healy
Irish athletics enjoyed another outstanding weekend on the international stage, with Mark English and Sarah Healy producing career-best performances at the London Diamond League, while Ireland’s next generation of stars claimed a remarkable medal haul at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti, Italy. Athletics London Diamond League Mark English delivered one of the finest [...]
Performance Round Up – June 2026
Athletics Mark English finished second in a high-quality men’s 800m field at the Rome Diamond League. The Donegal athlete clocked a season’s best time of 1:43.80, his second fastest ever over the distance, as he closed strongly in the final metres to challenge for victory. Sarah Healy delivered a personal best time of 14:48.88 in [...]