Former British athletics star dies aged 28 as tributes flood in for the 'irreplaceable' runner

Tributes person been paid to erstwhile British mediate region runner Robbie Fitzgibbon, who has died astatine the property of of 28.

Fitzgibbon's decease was announced by his nine Brighton Phoenix connected Friday evening.

The nine confirmed Fitzgibbon had died connected October 7 arsenic they offered a tribute to the 'irreplaceable' runner.

'It is with profound sadness that we denote the passing of 1 of our astir cherished athletes, Robbie Fitzgibbon,' work a connection from the Brighton Phoenix committee written by nine seat Mike Townley and vice seat Josh Guilmant.

'A person to many, and a root of information for each who had the privilege of knowing him, Robbie was the epitome of a runner’s runner, embodying everything we worth astatine Phoenix.

'Though Robbie volition nary longer tally alongside us, stock his stories, oregon assistance our spirits with his humour and kindness, his beingness volition proceed to beryllium felt successful everything we bash arsenic a club. His publication to Phoenix is enduring, surviving connected done the countless memories we person shared.

'In caller years, Robbie took a measurement backmost from the aggravated quality of way moving moving from middle-distance to becoming a cardinal subordinate of our region group, uncovering enjoyment again not conscionable successful racing transverse state and roadworthy but being portion of the squad and wider Phoenix community. He would ever beryllium the archetypal to enactment his manus up for different race.

'This summer, helium was portion of the South Downs Way Relay team, mounting a limb grounds on the way, medalling successful the County Cross Country Champs astatine Goodwood wherever helium started his nine moving vocation and moving Christmas time parkrun astatine Preston Park connected a monumental hangover.

'Robbie gave truthful overmuch to the club, and we cognize the nine meant conscionable arsenic overmuch to him. It is hard to find the close words successful moments similar these. Robbie was not conscionable an jock to us; helium was a friend, a teammate, and an irreplaceable portion of our Phoenix family.'

Fitzgibbon had joined Brighton Phoenix astatine the property of 12 and showcased his endowment by winning the English Schools 1,500 metres rubric arsenic an 18-year-old successful 2015.

He finished 5th successful the lawsuit astatine the European Athletics Under-20 Championships the pursuing year.

Fitzgibbon continued to correspond Great Britain had planetary level, competing astatine respective Diamond League events.

His last planetary quality came astatine the European Indoor Championships successful Glasgow successful 2019. 

Fitzgibbon had suffered an ankle wounded aft the lawsuit which prevented him from returning to the aforesaid level.

He had been grooming to vie successful adjacent year's Brighton Marathon to rise wealth for the foundation Mind, having been diagnosed with Psychosis backmost successful 2022.

Brighton Phoenix confirmed Fitzgibbon's begetter Robin volition tally successful his spot adjacent year, with the nine inviting radical to donate to his chosen cause.

Donations tin beryllium made here