Scot hoping hard work is rewarded

Guy Learmonth insists it’s time to get a decent return on the huge sacrifices made to become a titan of the athletics track by finally breaking his major medal duck.

The Borderer, 28, kicks off his crack at winning the European Indoor 800 metres title in Poland tonight.

But he has a lot to prove after being over-shadowed by British rivals Elliot Giles and Jamie Webb so far this year with both men usurping Seb Coe’s longstanding UK record last month.

Giles’ curious decision to skip the showpiece in Torun has left Webb – the silver medallist in Glasgow two years ago – as favourite and the Scot, disqualified in the semis on home turf after coming sixth at the 2015 edition, very much in the hunt for the podium.

And with uncertainty hanging over the Olympics, Learmonth wants to cash in while he can.

He said: “I’m feeling so good. And I feel like I’ve given myself four mega years off my new set-up. The whole lifestyle of it, all the changes I’ve made, I’m giving myself four years of just everything – utter commitment, no distractions.

“If this summer doesn’t go ahead, I’ll feel like I’ve lost two years of my physical prime. I know the Games had to be postponed last year because it was just crazy. But if it was postponed again this year, I think I’d cry.”

The Euros is going ahead behind closed doors with hugely strict coronavirus protocols in place in one of many dress rehearsals for what potentially lies ahead in Tokyo this summer.

Some would still prefer if the whole Olympics were simply abandoned and the £14 billion cost written off, especially as it appears organisers are starting to bow to the inevitable with strong hints emerging that no spectators from abroad will be allowed to attend.

But, Learmonth says, “It’s not our job to worry about that anyway, I think, as an athlete.

“There could be a situation where no fans are foreign. No matter what happens, it’s looking like it’s going to be a very different Olympics.

“But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I think a lot is riding on the vaccine.”

Neil Gourley vowed to go medal hunting after breezing into tonight’s 1500 metres final as the championships kicked off yesterday.

The 26-year-old Glaswegian, one of GB’s medal hopes, eased to victory in his semi in 3:39.84, overtaking Jakob Ingebrigtsen over the closing few strides.

Jodie Williams, who will contest the 400m and 4x400m, will captain the GB team.

MEDAL HOPES: Guy Learmonth is looking to break his duck in Poland.