Eilish McColgan: From Knee Surgery to Historic Fourth Olympics for Team GB
Eilish McColgan overcomes knee surgery to secure a spot in her fourth Olympics, making history for Team GB. Discover her inspiring journey to Tokyo 2020 and her relentless determination.
Image Credits: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Eilish McColgan would love nothing better than to win a medal at this year’s Paris Olympics.
A Medal Dream Despite Adversity
But the 33-year-old Scottish running star has admitted she is just incredibly proud to have earnt Team GB selection after knee surgery threatened to end her hopes of competing at an impressive fourth Olympics.
McColgan will make history as the first Scottish athlete in the history of GB track and field to compete in four Olympics when she lines up on the 10,000m start line next month in France.
Having struggled to even walk properly for a prolonged spell during her gruelling rehabilitation programme, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist is rightly thrilled to have earnt the opportunity to shine on the biggest stage of all again.
I think the toughest thing has been mentally, having to run through all that pain all the time was incredibly challenging.
Eilish McColgan
The Mental and Physical Battle
“The last 16 months have been some of the toughest of my career, but I’ve never stopped fighting. To make my fourth team is a dream come true,” she told SportsBoom.com.
Image Credits: Athletics Weekly
Making History for Scotland
“There’s no other Scottish athlete who has done it before, I knew it would be something very special to do.”
“But now it’s nice to know most of that pain is behind me now, even though I know I’ve still got a lot of work to do to get back to where I was.”
“I’d had two incredible races at the start of 2023, but I knew my build-up to those hadn’t been perfect.”
Record-Breaking Performances Fuel Hope
“But I think that’s the only thing that’s kept me going because I broke two British records and recorded two huge personal bests – it just gave me that little bit of faith to keep going.”
“Those performances made me think to myself that if I can have a really good build-up, well what could I run? How much faster could I run?”
“I just felt so confident in those races that I just felt there was so much more to come.”
“That, honestly, is the only thing that has kept me driving forward.”
Passing the Torch to a New Generation
McColgan will compete in Paris alongside Team GB prospect and fellow Scot Megan Keith, the 22-year-old tipped to follow in her compatriots’ illustrious footsteps.
The Dundee speedster is looking forward to racing with Keith as the duo look to find form just at the right time.
“She’s such a really nice girl, she’s improved so much over the last couple of seasons,” said McColgan.
“She’s had such a big breakthrough last year and this year, it’s incredible to see her competing the way she has been.”
“It will be great to have her alongside me in Paris. It’s funny really, she’s making her Olympic debut at pretty much the same age as I did.”
“There’s parallels there in our careers, it’s been pretty cool to watch.”
The Long Road to Recovery
McColgan’s knee surgery was a success, but her recovery has taken longer than she would have liked.
But experience has taught the Commonwealth Games gold medallist that her recovery can’t be rushed. She fought back from foot surgery to make her Olympic debut at London 2012 and ankle surgery to compete at Rio 2016.
Toyko 2021 followed, but this time her long road back to recovery has called McColgan to summon on all of her reserves.
“It started back in February (2023) last year, I was getting pain in my knee,” reflected McColgan, whose mum Liz famously won a silver medal for Team GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
“We (me and my team) managed to get through until April and get two really good races in, but after that I pulled my hamstring and the knee pain just got worse and worse from there.”
“And that was it. I don’t think I ran a step without being in pain from April up until now if I’m being honest.”
“I’m still in pain now, but it’s manageable and so much more improved that what it was.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.