The athlete was referred to as the “epitome of a runner’s runner” by his club, Brighton Phoenix, after representing Great Britain at the European Championships.
The club confirmed his loss on Friday, saying: “We regret to inform you of the passing of Robbie Fitzgibbon, one of our most beloved athletes.
Robbie was a runner’s runner who embodied all of Phoenix’s values. He was a friend to many and an inspiration to everyone who had the honor of knowing him.
His impact on Phoenix endures because of the innumerable memories we have of each other.
At the age of twelve, Fitzgibbon participated in his first race with the athletics club. He later competed in multiple Diamond League events and represented his nation at the European Championships, where he advanced to the final.
Prior to his passing, he was getting ready to run the Brighton Marathon the next year in order to support the mental health organization Mind.
Fitzgibbon stated that he was diagnosed with psychosis in 2022 and that his rehabilitation was a “really difficult challenge” on a fundraising website for the event.
