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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Craig Meighan

Eilish McColgan wins gold at Commonwealth Games to match mum's 1986 record

Scotland’s Eilish McColgan poses next to her Commonwealth Record after winning Gold in the Women’s 10,000m

EILISH McColgan has won gold in the women's 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – setting a Games record and matching her mum's achievement in 1986.

The 31-year-old runner picked up her first medal of the Games so far on Wednesday.

It comes after a year in which she had to deal with Covid-19 and a serious injury.

McColgan's mother Liz picked up medals in Edinburgh in 1986 and Auckland in 1990.

The runner said she had never sprinted like that in her life.

Speaking after winning gold, she said: "It's just been such an up and down year with Covid, another illness and a couple of other niggles.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more to have my family here, it was vibrating through my body. I have never sprinted like that in my life and without the crowd I could never have done that.

"This is my third Commonwealth games and my fourth event so I finally found an event. To win it tonight was so special.

"Your family know the ups and downs and this is my fourth attempt over four events and I have come sixth every time. You could see I wanted gold."

Her mum Liz said it was "incredible" to see her daughter win.

She said: "Obviously the crowd was amazing and to witness your daughter win in the same event is incredible – she just ran the race I knew she was capable of running.

"I know how hard she works and it's fantastic it came together and she won."

Congratulating McColgan on Twitter, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "What an absolutely amazing night for @Team_Scotland – congratulations to all our medal winners so far in these #CommonwealthGames.

"Every medal is special, but what a tear in the eye to see @EilishMccolgan  match her mum’s 1986 gold."

Judy Murray, mother of Andy Murray, tweeted: “This is wonderful. What an amazing family achievement for Eilish and Liz.”

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