Former British middle-distance runner Robbie Fitzgibbon passed away on October 7, as confirmed by his club, Brighton Phoenix, on Friday evening.
Fitzgibbon, who had once been a standout junior athlete, competed in the 1500m at the London Anniversary Games in 2017, finishing 13th, and later achieved a personal best in the event with a time of 3:36:97 in Nijmegen that same year. He also represented Britain at the 2019 European Indoor Championships in Glasgow before suffering a significant injury.
Earlier this year, he revealed he had been diagnosed with psychosis in 2022 while training for the Brighton Marathon to raise funds for the charity Mind.
In a heartfelt statement from Brighton Phoenix, club leaders Mike Townley and Josh Guilmant expressed their sorrow: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of one of our most cherished athletes, Robbie Fitzgibbon… Though Robbie will no longer run alongside us, his presence will continue to be felt in everything we do as a club. Robbie gave so much to the club, and we know the club meant just as much to him.”
Jake Wightman, two-time British champion and Olympian, paid tribute to Fitzgibbon, stating, “Will always remember him as the young lad I met back in Kenya 2015, who always had a smile on his face. So so sad. RIP Gibbo.” Meanwhile, Team GB’s Ellie Baker added: “A real star. Thanks for the laughs and the memories Robbie. You will be missed by so many. Rest in peace, my friend.”
On his Just Giving page, Fitzgibbon had detailed his struggles, writing, “I’m raising money for Mind because in 2022 I was diagnosed with a mental illness called Psychosis and recovering from this has been a really difficult challenge… I couldn’t get back to the same level of competition, and that drove me over the edge mentally, which spiraled into psychosis.”
To honor his memory, Fitzgibbon’s father, Robin, will run in his place at the Brighton Marathon on April 6 next year. Brighton Phoenix also invited those who wished to contribute to Fitzgibbon’s chosen cause by donating to Mind in his honor.
