Mark English heads to the World Indoor Championships in Toruń in outstanding form following one of the strongest indoor seasons of his career.
The Finn Valley AC athlete from Letterkenny has been a cornerstone of Irish middle distance running for more than a decade. A multiple European medallist and Olympic finalist, English has consistently competed with the best 800 metre runners in the world.
English first rose to prominence as a young athlete when he claimed bronze at the 2014 European Championships, marking himself out as one of Europe’s leading two lap runners. Since then he has added several more international medals to his collection, including silver and bronze at the European Indoor Championships, while continuing to represent Ireland at World Championships and Olympic Games. Most recently he secured another bronze medal at the 2025 European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn.
The 2026 indoor season has seen the Donegal runner reach new heights. English opened the year by breaking the Irish indoor 800m record in Luxembourg, clocking 1:44.65 to win at the CMCM Indoor Meeting.
Just weeks later he lowered the national mark again at the Czech Indoor Gala in Ostrava, running 1:44.23 to finish third in a world class field and continue his remarkable run of form.
With national records falling and confidence high, English arrives in Toruń as one of the most experienced members of the Irish team and poised to make an impact in the men’s 800 metres.
Mark English: Quick Facts
Event: 800 metres
Club: Finn Valley AC
Indoor Personal Best
800m: 1:44.23 (2026 - Irish indoor record)
Outdoor Personal Best
800m: 1:43.37 (2025)
Career Highlights
- 10× Irish 800m champion (outdoor) & 9× Irish 60m champion (indoor)
- 2x European Outdoor Bronze (2014 & 2022)
- 1x European Indoor Silver (2015)
- 2x European Bronze (2019 & 2025)
- Represented Ireland at multiple Olympic Games and World Championships
2026 Indoor Season
- Set Irish indoor 600m record – 1:15.80 in Dublin
- Broke Irish indoor 800m record twice – 1:44.65 in Luxembourg & again to 1:44.23 in Ostrava
We wish Mark every success this weekend comning weekend in Poland