BATTLING A STORM
Doha was difficult but I’ll be at my best for 2020 Olympics
IT’S been over a month since the World Championships ended but the ‘cloud’ Laura Muir spoke of in the wake of the 1500metres final in Doha still hangs over athletics.
The 26-year-old Scot had been blunt after the Alberto Salazar-trained Sifan Hassan had added to her 10,000m title with another gold and a championship record of three minutes 51.95 seconds.
American Salazar had been given a four-year ban by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for doping violations just four days before Hassan’s 1500m success. Yesterday, the 61-year-old appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although his case is unlikely to be heard before March next year.
Muir finished fifth in Doha in 3mins 55.76 secs — her second-best ever time — despite her build-up having been disrupted by injury and illness.
Asked if the cloud she spoke about will have gone away by Tokyo 2020, Muir admitted: ‘I don’t know. We don’t know what is going to happen between now and then.
‘All I can really do is focus on myself and train as hard as I can and be in the best shape I can possibly be going into Tokyo.
‘All we want is a level playing field and there is only so much you can control, that you can do.
‘You have just got to support these things coming out, and people getting caught, investigations getting done — that is what has to happen for the field to be as level as possible.
‘You can’t think about it too much. It would really take away from your enjoyment of the sport if you questioned every single race that you are in and everything.
‘All you can control is yourself. I love the sport for what it is. I love training and I love racing. All I can do is prepare myself the best I can.’
A global outdoor medal remains elusive for Muir but she remains positive about her chances of finally taking that final step.
‘It is a big driving force, to be so close a number of times. I know I can do it,’ she continued.
‘It definitely just drives me on year-on-year. I have seen those medals now, I have been on podiums, I have been on top of the podium.
‘I just want that first global medal but if my first global medal I get comes at the Olympics, I won’t be complaining.’
Muir experienced a largely successful 2019, despite failing to win a medal in Doha. She started the year off with golds in the 1500m and 3,000m at the European Championship in Glasgow in front of a home crowd.
However, a calf injury in July and bout of illness in the run-up to the Worlds disrupted her preparations.
‘I was very happy with the indoor season, it couldn’t have gone any better until my injury but to run 3min 55secs in Doha is something I was delighted with,’ she said.
‘Ten out of ten would have been a medal but I don’t think I could’ve done any more to have got that, so in terms of execution, ten out of ten but what I achieved was nine out of ten. ‘But I’m still very happy about it — it gave me a lot of confidence ahead of next year. ‘At the time, it was frustrating as you want to be performing like you know you can be and its difficult when you’re not 100 per cent when you need to be. ‘At the same time, it’s a big driving force because I know if I can have that disruption and perform that well, if I can have a clean slate going into a championships, I stand a good chance of doing well. It was frustrating and a confidence booster at the same time. ‘I have been in that top-five bracket for quite a while now, and I am still there or thereabouts, even if I am not 100 per cent. ‘I know it is only one or two places and then I can get a medal. ‘After everything, it gives me a lot of confidence going into next year knowing I am still one of the best in the world, even though I have had injury problems. ‘Sometimes I can win a race but not be happy with myself if I feel I haven’t executed it right.
‘And sometimes, I can be fourth or fifth and be delighted with how I’ve done it. I’m very critical of myself but at the same time I’m realistic, I know where I should be at.’
As for next year, Muir is looking to start the season with a bang in February when she competes at the Muller Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow.
She has laid out the challenge of wanting to beat Maria Mutola’s 20-year world record of 2min 20.94 seconds in the 1,000m.
‘I’m really excited, I’ve been the British and European record holder so it would be nice to do that very first world record in my home country, in front of a British crowd where I’ve had such fond memories from earlier this year,’ she said.
‘I’m close so I’m hoping it’s a realistic achievement to do.
‘2020 is a big year. To have a world record to your name at the indoors is a pretty good start to your season. The Grand Prix is the biggest indoor competition in the world, so to have that here in Glasgow is fantastic.’
Tickets for the Muller Indoor Grand Prix and the Spar British Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow are on sale and available in limited supply — to secure your place, visit https://wwwtheticketfactory. com/british-athletics/online/