SAYS LAURA MUIR
MARK WOODS IN DOHA LAURA MUIR couldn’t buy a medal when she took part in her school sports day as a kid – now she hopes to be top of the class in Doha.
The 26-year-old Scots star kicks off her bid to be champion of the world when the 1500 metres heats begin tonight.
And she’ll be the one they all fear, despite the calf injury that knocked the European champion’s build-up off track.
It’s changed days from her time on the playing fields of Milnathort where Muir admits she had no one running scared. But it taught her how to have the focus of a winner.
She said: “I would come 10th and be like, ‘Oh top 10, that’s fine!’ I wasn’t that bothered. I’d scrape into finals then come last, which is worse because you wait around for five hours then finish last.
“I was just enjoying it for what it was. As long as I was improving, I wasn’t too bothered about anyone else.
“If I ran a personal best and was last, I’d still be happy. That’s a big part of it. I don’t really worry about other athletes.”
But merely making Saturday’s final won’t be enough to satisfy Muir.
Not when she’s chasing a first outdoor world medal to sit alongside the Diamond League titles and European golds tucked away at home.
She said: “I hope I never come across as arrogant but you have to have that confidence in yourself. I’ve made that jump.”
Scotland has only produced five global champions and just one since track and field set up its jamboree in 1983.
But Muir won’t have it all her own way. She’ll have Scots prospect Jemma Reekie nipping at her heels – with their training buddy in Glasgow, Gabi Stafford, running for Canada.
Then there’s Kenya’s Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon and Dutch dynamo Sifan Hassan, in prime form after last weekend’s 10,000m gold.
But the Ethiopian-born ace is set for a grilling after her coach Alberto Salazar was sent packing from Doha yesterday.
The controversial American, who guided Mo Farah to Olympic glory, has been handed a four-year ban for doping offences.
Farah said: “I have no tolerance for anyone who breaks the rules or crosses a line. A ruling has been made and I’m glad there has finally been a conclusion.”