Milnathort superstar praises her hometown

Kinross-shire sports star Laura Muir has praised her hometown for making her the star she is today as locals honoured her for her Commonwealth Games success.

Residents in Milnathort wanted to celebrate her achievements and presented her with a plaque at her former primary school yesterday.

She later unveiled a street named Muir Way after her in the Pace Hill development in the north of the town.

Speaking to The Courier, Laura praised her upbringing in the town and her teachers for making her the athlete she is today, having started her running journey at her former school.

She said: “I think my upbringing here has helped inspire and make me into who I am today.

“Having that support at a young age from a really supportive school and teachers that want you to get involved in sport and encourage you in sport is a really big part of that.

“I’ve always really enjoyed running from the start, and I think having that enjoyment has really helped me to continue with it and then be where I am today.

“This is where I grew up and where my running journey kind of started with running in primary school.

“It’s so nice to be back and to see some of my teachers that are still here.”

Laura, who was born in Inverness but moved to Milnathort at the age of three, won a gold medal in the 1,500 metres at the games in Birmingham in the summer and a bronze in the 800 metres.

Her other achievements include two European championships, an Olympic silver medal and bronze medals at the world championships.

This means she has achieved her goal of winning a medal in every championship.

When looking back on her career and all of her success, she said: “It’s really surreal.

“Just walking here today, I don’t think I’ve walked through those gates in about 20 years, so it’s really weird to think how much has happened in that space of time.

“It’s amazing – more than I could have ever dreamed of, and it’s so nice to come back with the medals and show the kids and for them to be like: ‘Oh, she came from where I am now so why can’t I do that?’ It’s an amazing position to be in, and it’s lovely to hopefully be able to inspire them.”

But running was not what she planned to do.

Laura graduated as a vet from Glasgow University in 2018.

After changing her coach, she got her first Team GB cap three months into her studies.

Her running quickly progressed afterwards, and she is now a full-time athlete, although she hopes to return to veterinary practice after she has retired from running.

But for now she is training for next year’s world championships and the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, which includes heading off to a couple of training camps.

Laura’s mum Alison, who still lives in Milnathort, said she was very proud of her daughter’s achievements.

She said singing the Scottish national anthem at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was a very special moment and one personal highlight from Laura’s career.

Milnathort and Orwell Community Council member Neill Bingham recalled the community’s reaction to Laura’s performance in the summer.

He said: “The build up before the finals, people were putting signs up in their windows.

“It’s nice to acknowledge someone for their achievements.

“Hopefully, it will inspire some of the kids to run.

“Laura’s such an inspirational figure, and it was great to recognise that.”

CHAMPION: Commonwealth Games champion Laura Muir unveiled a street named after her in the town she calls home. Picture by Kenny Smith.