Jemma: Now I’m living the dream

Hard work’s paid off, says race ace

Habbie superstar Jemma Reekie told how she dreamed about becoming a professional runner from the age of ten.

Jemma, 22, a rising star from Kilbarchan AAC, raced to glory after racking up three incredible results within five days.

The middle- distance runner smashed the 800 metres record at the Scottish Masters Championships and won two IAAF World Indoor Series races - setting three new British Records.

And the double European Under-23 champ revealed her burning ambition began from the very day she started running.

In an interview with Scottish Athletics, Jemma said: “As soon as I started running my mum and dad say that was it, and my heart was set on it.

“I was something like 10 years of age but I was saying to them ‘I want to be a runner when I grow up’

“I had no idea actually how it could work as a job and I had no idea about money or earning a living at that kind of age.

“I was just saying ‘ I want to be a runner’ whether or not I would get paid. And I was determined about it.

“That attitude came through in my training.”

School cross- country paved the way to her joining the Habbies where coaches made her feel part of the family and helped nurture her talent.

She said: “I think my first race was just a 1km in cross country but it still seemed far too long to me. I joined Kilbarchan AAC not long after that.

“There I was coached both by Arthur Smith and Alan Craig. They made me feel so welcome and so did all the girls in the group.

“I did track sessions at first and then grass sessions at the weekend. It was all about having fun at that age, really. I looked up to the likes of Claire Gibson, a Scotland 2010 Commonwealth Games athlete, and Gwen Gillham at that time and Kilbarchan was like a family group to me then.

“I still talk to the coaches and keep in touch with some of the girls.”

And her love of the track was only cemented by being chosen to carry the Olympic flame.

She added: “London was the first Olympics I can remember. I carried the Olympic torch after my auntie put me forward for it.

“When I was told I was getting to do it, the letter said: ‘This is your first step towards becoming an Olympian yourself.’

“I was like ‘Wow, that’s so cool’. It felt as if I was dipping my toe in the water.

“In 2014 I went to Hampden to watch athletics. I went to the Diamond League meeting which was held there a couple of weeks before the Commonwealths. I’d not been to anything like that before and I also competed at Hampden in the Scottish Schools.

“With all of that being so close to home, it just kind of brought it all home what might be possible.”

Jemma who holds the UK’s 800m, 1500m and mile records vowed to use the “extra year” to prepare for the Olympics in Japan next year.