Eilish McColgan is one of the faces of the Glasgow 2026 Games and is giving herself “every opportunity” to defend her Commonwealth Games 10,000m title in her home country on Monday, according to her mother and coach Liz. McColgan, 35, emulated her mum by roaring to gold in Birmingham four years ago in one of the most iconic moment of that event.
In an injury-scarred spell since then, she has transitioned to road racing but has committed to returning to the track so she can compete at a second home Games in Glasgow after doing the steeplechase in 2014. However, battling through a gruesome toe injury in April's London Marathon led to an undetected stress fracture, which has cast McColgan's participation in Monday's historic mile event at Scotstoun in serious doubt.
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The Dundonian is back in full training and is determined to race, but her team are still being cautious about her chances of making the start line.
Will Eilish McColgan make the start line?
Her mother and coach Liz says McColgan wants to compete and has given herself every opportunity to be ready for Monday’s race, but the team are not yet certain she will be fit to start.
“Eilish wants to be in Glasgow. She wants to compete. She's the reigning champion and she's given herself every opportunity to be on that start line,”
McColgan told .
“I'd be lying if I said we're 100 percent definitely going to race because she still has a couple of sessions that we need to run to make sure that everything's okay, like getting spikes on.”
She said the team are trying to ensure everything is in place for McColgan to achieve what she wants to do.
“We're trying our hardest to put everything in place for her to be able to achieve what she wants to do.”
Liz McColgan added that if Eilish does stand on the start line, she will give everything she has, and the family hope she could match the double gold feat Liz achieved, although her immediate focus is on making sure she is fit enough to race.
“I know if Eilish is standing on that start line, she will give it 100 percent. It'd be great for her to be - like I was - a double gold medal winner, but we're just making sure everything's all right for her.”
Key Facts
- Eilish McColgan is 35 and the reigning Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion.
- She won gold in Birmingham four years ago, matching her mother Liz’s achievement.
- She is recovering from a foot fracture linked to a toe injury in April's London Marathon.
- Her participation in Monday’s historic mile event at Scotstoun is in serious doubt.
- McColgan previously competed at a home Games in Glasgow in 2014 in the steeplechase.
