Reekie Targets Dual Events at Commonwealth Games
Scottish middle-distance athlete Jemma Reekie has expressed that she feels "no pressure" ahead of the upcoming World Indoor Championships and has indicated her intention to compete in two events at this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 28-year-old will participate in the 1500m event in Poland, which she views as preparation for potentially entering the Mile race at the Commonwealth Games.
Although Reekie's preferred distance is the 800m, she has recently been competing in longer races and secured victory in the 1500m at last month's UK Indoor Championships.
"If I can, I'd love to double up at the Commonwealths and run the 800 and the Mile," she told BBC Scotland.
Interest in the Mile and Future Plans
Reekie described the Mile as "a really cool event" and appreciates the opportunity to try something different.
"I'm just really excited to learn and to move in. I'm not moving up full time, I'm going to go back to the 800m outdoors.
I'm enjoying it so far. I think in the future I might be a great 1500m runner. So, I'm kind of dipping my toes in to see how it goes. I'm enjoying it, the training's really good."
Her recent indoor success has left the two-time Olympian satisfied with her form as she prepares for the competition in Torun, Poland, but she emphasizes that enjoyment remains her priority before the outdoor season begins.
Mental Health and Competitive Outlook
Reekie spoke openly about how not qualifying for the 800m final at the 2024 Olympics led her to focus more on her mental health.
The 1500m heats in Torun are scheduled for Friday, with the final on Sunday.
"It's definitely getting there," she said. "We'll see how I go this weekend over that distance. I'm definitely having a lot of fun, and that's the main aim.
I've got no pressure this weekend at all, other than myself. So, I'm just going to go out there and have fun and see what I can do.
The past two outdoor seasons I've missed out on finals, so that'll definitely be the first step forward to get into that final."
Training and Support Team
Since March 2023, Reekie has been training with coach Jon Bigg alongside fellow Team GB athlete Laura Muir. She has also incorporated additional support, including psychologists, to enhance her performance.
"I've been with Jon for a while now, and we've been working on lots and I've got stronger and stronger as the years have gone by," she said.
It's just adding in those 1% gains and new people to your team, which I'm really enjoying. I think athletes always can work on something."
