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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Eilish McColgan wants to make Scotland proud after learning Paris Olympics fate

Eilish McColgan is "absolutely over the moon" to be representing Team GB at a record-breaking fourth Olympic Games this summer. 

The 33-year-old had been sidelined through injury over the past year, which resulted in her missing the London Marathon and World Championships. 

But the Dundee-born athlete is back to full fitness and has chosen to compete in the 10,000m event in Paris. 

Joining the Scottish contingent at the upcoming Olympics in Paris will be Laura Muir, who previously won a silver medal at the Tokyo Games. Muir, a seasoned Olympian, will be competing in the Women's 1500m event.

Additionally, several athletes are making their debut Olympic appearances, including Megan Keith, Nick Percy, and Neil Gourley.  Team GB also features the familiar faces of Josh Kerr, Jemma Reekie, Jake Wightman, and Nicole Yeargin, all of whom have secured their places on the Olympic roster.

"I'm absolutely over the moon to be selected for my fourth Olympic Games," McColgan said in a video message via Scottish Athletics. 

"The last 16 months have been incredibly challenging so it's made it a little bit sweeter knowing that I will get to represent the country once more.

"It is a huge honour as always to represent the nation but even more so, a big privilege to become the first ever Scottish athlete, male or female across track and field, to represent at four games. 


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"It is no mean feat so I'm incredibly proud of that achievement and I'm just really, really excited now to get back to work for these next five weeks. 

"Even more incredible to be on the start line along side another fellow Scot in Megan (Keith). I'm sure the two of us will do our absolute best to make the country proud."

Shortly after the announcement, she also took to Facebook and wrote an emotional message to her followers. 

"4 X OLYMPIAN!!!," it read. "It is honestly a dream come true to announce I'll be competing at my FOURTH Olympic Games in Paris!

"The first Scottish athlete (in the history of GB track & field) to reach four!

"The last 16 months have been some of the toughest of my career but I have never stopped fighting.

"Olympic cycles are tooooough, but never giving up is something I'm most proud of.

"Fighting back from foot surgery to make London 2012 and ankle surgery before Rio 2016 was challenging to say the least! Tokyo 2021 prep was good other than catching COVID 100x like the rest of the world. And now for Paris 2024, I've been battling my way back from knee surgery. (Clearly my body doesn't like Olympic cycles because between those years - things are relatively plain sailing!)


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"I think I'm now one of the oldest on the Team GB athletics squad... which is pretty scary! 800m prodigy Phoebe Gill was only 5 years old when I raced in London 2012. Absolutely maaaad!

"But joking aside, it's a huge honour to line up in the 10,000m - alongside fellow Scot Megan. Jess fully deserved to be alongside us too, but she's taking the time to prioritise her health which is far more important than any race!

"Thank you again to everyone for their support and kind words - I always make the effort to read them! And to my sponsors for sticking with me through it all.

"Team McColgan - can we make it to 5!? LA 2028?! #keepbelieving."

Team GB Chef de Mission, Mark England OBE, said, “The Games are within touching distance now and I am delighted to welcome a hugely talented and exciting track and field squad to Team GB today.“

“The group boasts a very strong mix of Olympic, World and European medallists. I am confident that their experience will a source of inspiration and support not only to the 35 debutants who have also made the team, but to the wider Team GB too.

“Athletics fans were treated to some outstanding breakthrough performances at the British Championships in Manchester last week which has given us a glimpse of what we can expect next month in Paris.”


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Team Leader, Paula Dunn, added: “Congratulations to all the athletes and their support networks on their selection for Paris 2024. It is a huge moment in their careers, and they have all worked incredibly hard to get into this position.

“I wish all the selected athletes well in their last few weeks of preparation and we will continue to ensure that they can optimise and maximise all the support required leading into Paris.

“It’s a brilliant mix of athletes who have multiple global medals alongside some amazing young talent that has only just broken through this season. We saw a number of athletes step up at this weekend’s Microplus UK Athletics Championships with some exceptional performances across the board to get those standards.

“We know from this we have a high quality team for Paris next month who know how to produce their best when it counts and will be challenging for medals and those Olympic final spots. It’s an exciting time for everyone, and we’re incredibly proud of the team named today.”

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