Scotland's Eilish McColgan wins gold at Commonwealth Games

The star has set a new Commonwealth Games record in the 10,000m final!

Author: Nicolle CasselsPublished 3rd Aug 2022
Last updated 4th Aug 2022

Scottish runner Eilish McColgan has won gold in the 10,000m Commonwealth Games final in Birmingham, securing her first major title.

The 31-year-old has set a new Commonwealth Games record of 30:48.60 minutes.

The Dundee star has matched the achievement of her mum Liz McColgan, who won the title in 1986 and 1990.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it brought a "tear in the eye" to see Scottish runner Eilish McColgan win the 10,000-metre Commonwealth Games final.

McColgan won gold at the Games in Birmingham in a record time of 30:48:60 to match her mother Liz McColgan's gold at the 1986 Games in Edinburgh. It is her first major title.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted: "What an absolutely amazing night for Team Scotland - congratulations to all our medal winners so far in these Commonwealth Games.

"Every medal is special, but what a tear in the eye to see Eilish McColgan match her mum's 1986 gold."

Eilish McColgan with mum Liz

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "Incredible! What a story!"

Channel 5 newsreader Dan Walker said his "whole family were screaming" for the last 600 metres.

Wrapped in a saltire, McColgan shared the emotional moment with her mother and her partner who were cheering her on from the stands in Birmingham.

Speaking afterwards, she said: "It's just been such an up and down year with Covid, initially, then another illness and a couple of niggles at the wrong time... but I honestly couldn't have asked for any more tonight to have my family here.

"The crowd, in that last 200 metres, I can't even explain it. It was vibrating through my whole body.

"I've never sprinted like that in my entire life. Without the crowd, I wouldn't have finished like that. I just wanted it so bad.

"It's just an absolute dream."

Liz McColgan joined her daughter and said: "For me as a mother, not even as just a coach, to witness your daughter winning is just amazing and to win it in the same event I won it in.

"She's just ran the race I always knew she was capable of winning. It was amazing to watch, it was very nerve-racking to watch. It's been a long time coming and she put it together tonight and I'm just really, really pleased."

Team Scotland won three other gold medals on Wednesday: Duncan Ross won his fifth medal for the men's 200-metre medley, Sarah Adlington for the 78kg and higher women's judo, and Rosemary Lenton and Pauline Wilson for the women's para lawn bowls.

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