Coe tips Laura for Olympic glory

LAURA MUIR’S historic doubledouble has convinced Seb Coe that she is in line to become Olympic champion next year.

She became the first athlete to retain two titles at the European Indoor Championships when winning the 1500m and 3000m in Glasgow.

British team boss Neil Black said Muir can be bracketed with Paula Radcliffe and Mo Farah.

But while she has five European titles and eight British or European records to her name, Muir (right) has yet to make it globally.

However Lord Coe, boss of world athletics, feels sure the Scottish vet’s time will come at Tokyo 2020.

Asked if she could win gold in Japan, Coe said: “Absolutely, no question about it. The difference between the good and the great is the ability to move your feet and change pace, whether it’s breaking clear of defenders or running clear of a pack. That’s what she’s got.

“You didn’t think there was ever going to be a moment that Laura was going to lose. She is in that purple patch as an athlete.”

A potential cloud emerged on Muir’s horizon last month when she smashed the British Indoor mile record wearing spikes that, it was claimed, may not comply with regulations.

Athletics rules say that shoes must be “reasonably available” to all and the pair used by Muir are believed to be prototypes.

But as there has been no complaint lodged to the IAAF, the matter is not being investigated and Coe added: “Look, I’ll be honest, I had shoes which weren’t reasonably available as they were modelled for my feet.

“So I think we’ve got to be a careful how we define ‘reasonably available’. If you’ve got a spring coil underneath them well fine, that’s clearly a mechanical advantage.

“If they’re designed for the specific need of our top athletes, then I’m rather comforted that shoe companies are doing that.”