The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Athletes’ progress pleases head coach
UK Athletics Olympic head coach Christian Malcolm believes results this winter from his Tokyo hopefuls have proved they can come out of Covid firing on all cylinders.
His medal prospects for the summer have shot up with the likes of Laura Muir setting British indoor records over 1500 metres last month and new stars like Keely Hodgkinson winning 800m gold at the European Indoor Championships at the weekend.
And although travel restrictions could complicate their build-up, Malcolm insists his leading lights are managing to cope.
He said: “It’s been very difficult for them when it comes to training but it shows they’ve still been putting in the work and a lot of these guys have come here and performed really well.
“We’re all now hopeful that, in the next few months things will start to open up, so there’s better access to training for everyone.”
Zoey Clark was the lone Scot to return from Poland yesterday with a medal from the 4x400 relay with Andrew Butchart, Guy Learmonth and Neil Gourley all pleading guilty to under-performing.
But Jemma Reekie still leads a new Brit Pack coming through that could step up to the podium in time for for Tokyo or perhaps even the Paris 2024 Olympics beyond.
“Paris is the long game and the focus for us,” Malcolm said.
“We’ve got a lot of talent coming through at this moment in time and it’s being able to nurture and focus that talent.
“The fact we’ve got three big championships next year in worlds, Commonwealths and Europeans and then back for the worlds and Olympics the following two years, I think it’s a real opportunity for these athletes to really grow over the next three years.
“It’s for us to help and support them through that.”