Gateshead Olympic hero to start Great North Run 2024
BMX superstar Kieran Reilly will kick start the race
Gateshead born and raised, and now Paris 2024 Olympic Silver Medallist, Kieran Reilly, has been named as the official honorary starter of the 2024 AJ Bell Great North Run taking place on Sunday 8 September.
Kieran, whose spectacular tricks and skills on the BMX in Paris secured him a stunning spot on the podium, will take to the iconic starters platform on Sunday morning to set 60,000 runners on their way at the 43rd staging of the world famous half marathon.
Sir Brendan Foster, Founder of the Great North Run and President of The Great Run Company, said: “The nation came together this summer to cheer on Team GB at the Olympics, and one of the stars of the show was a lad from Gateshead, Kieran Reilly, whose display on the BMX was just thrilling.”
"Kieran’s career started on a skatepark along the Great North Run route, and he has now returned to the North East an Olympic silver medallist. It’s very fitting for us to ask Kieran to come and start this year’s Great North Run, and for everyone from the region to celebrate his success....and I think he’s got a little plan on how he might announce his arrival so keep your eyes peeled."
Kieran added: “The Great North Run has a place my heart. My dad has run it numerous times and my Mam is running it this year too. I had hoped to run myself this year but I’ve been a little busy, but hopefully next year. Being asked to start the race is a real honour, to be alongside so many local heroes who have done this before is something I never expected to come into my life. It’s just huge!”
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Kieran joins a long list of North East heroes who have performed official starting duties at the Great North Run including; Sting, Ant and Dec, Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer, Eddie Howe, and Jill Scott, as well as fellow Olympians Sir Chris Hoy and Jonathan Edwards.