Laura Muir's golden fortnight as she wins 1500m in Munich

The Scottish athlete retains her European title

Author: Rob WallerPublished 20th Aug 2022

Scottish runner Laura Muir won her fourth medal of an "insane" summer with gold in the 1,500 metres in the European Championships hot on the heels of her successes in the same race at the Commonwealth Games.

Muir, who won bronze in the World Championships and gold and bronze in Birmingham, powered to a commanding win to retain the title she claimed four years ago in Berlin.

Muir was happy to sit at the back of the field in the early stages before cruising into the lead with two laps to go and the 29-year-old then kicked for home with just over 400m remaining.

Irish challenger

Ireland's Ciara Mageean dug deep to keep Muir in her sights but the Olympic silver medallist was too strong and crossed the line in 4:01.08, with Mageean 1.48 seconds behind.

Poland's Sofia Ennaoui took the bronze ahead of Britain'sKatie Snowden, with Ellie Baker finishing eighth.

Speaking about the packed schedule of championships this year, Muir told the BBC: "It looked hard on paper but actually doing it in person - never again!

A unique summer of athletics

"It was an amazing opportunity and a very unique one that we'd never get three champs in a year, let alone five weeks in the summer. It was just insane but I was like 'You know what, I want to give it a go'.

"My aim was to medal in all three, which I've done but to win the Commonwealths and to win here, I'm so happy.

"This was the hardest one. On paper it looked the easiest, one event, only two rounds, so physically it was the easiest of the three but it was so tough mentally. It was the most difficult race I think I've ever run."

Memorable Commonwealth Games moments

Roger Bannister and John Landy, the first two men to crack the four-minute-mile, raced against each other the 1954 Vancouver Commonwealth Games, with Roger Bannister coming out victorious.

Precious McKenzie winning weightlifting gold again at Christchurch 1974, attracted the attention of The Queen and caused her to be late for an official engagement.

Nicola Adams won the first gold medal for women's boxing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014.

Jim Peters tragically collapses just before the finish line of his marathon in 1954. He reportedly crawled for 11 minutes before being put onto a stretcher.

Chantal Petitclerc, one of the most high-profile pioneers for para-sports, won gold in the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Allan Wells and Mike McFarlane in the Brisbane 1982 Commonwealth Games 200m both won a gold medal. This is the only gold draw in Commonwealth history.

Usain Bolt helped Jamaica win gold in the Men's 4x100m relay during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Filbert Bayi set the world record in the 1,500m at the Christchurch 1974 Commonwealth Games.

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