Athlete with Mayo ties progresses at Olympic Games

Mark English of Team Ireland has advanced to the semi-finals of the men's 800m at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. The talented athlete, who boasts familial ties to Mayo through his grandmother Eileen English (née Egan) from Crofton Park, Ballina, finished second in his heat at the Stade de France this morning.

Hailing from Letterkenny, English put in an impressive performance in a fast-paced Heat 2 in Paris. The accomplished doctor and member of the Finn Valley Athletics Club maintained a prominent position throughout the race, ultimately securing his spot in the semi-finals with a strong finish and a time of 1:45.15. Only the top three runners from each heat advance automatically.

This marks English's third appearance at the Olympics, proving his top-tier talent at an international level. The men's 800m semi-final is scheduled for Friday at 10.30 a.m., where English will once again compete on the world stage.

Reflecting on his training regime in an interview from 2022, English shared the challenges he faced while working at Mayo University Hospital.

"It was tough being up in Mayo until around January time," he recalled. "I was training out on the Claremorris track, doing all the work on my own, then up to Feidhlim Kelly (his coach at the Dublin Track Club) at the weekends."

His grand-aunt, Teresa Kelly lives in Pontoon Drive, Castlebar.