SCOTS Olympic gold medalist Eilish McColgan has returned to her home city and met children she’s inspiring and supporting to follow in her footsteps.
The 31-year-old, three-times Olympian from Dundee recently launched the P5-P7 Giving Back to Track club in the hope that it will be the first of a network around the city and throughout Scotland – supporting the next generation of athletes.
In addition to funding the project, McColgan also has her own running club, and helps out with Dundee Hawkhill Harriers, and Leisure and Culture Dundee’s Active Schools programme to help children on the path to sporting success.
McColgan met the youngsters taking part in the special project ahead of sharing the story of her season, at a special event hosted Dundee legal firm Lindsays.
Speaking to McColgan, she said: “I am so excited by the launch of the after-school clubs and have been looking forward to meeting some of the children taking part. It’s great to see how enthusiastic they are and to see everything take shape.
“The support I get from everyone at home in Dundee is amazing. To be able to repay
that by helping children in the community become involved in sport means a lot to
me.
“Thanks to my team-mates at the Hawks, sponsors including Lindsays and Active
Schools, I really hope that we can create some great opportunities for people who
might otherwise not have had the chance to try athletics.”
Some of the children involved in the recently launched after-school club – which
takes in pupils from Camperdown Primary and St Clement’s RC Primary schools –
are also now attending Hawks training sessions.
Dundee Active Schools Coordinator Jane Dunlop who works alongside record-breaker McColgan said: “It is truly inspiring for all the pupils to know that Eilish, a world-class
athlete, is backing them as they begin their journey in athletics.
“Providing high-quality opportunities for children is something Active Schools strives
to achieve. As a result of Eilish helping clubs like this one, even more children can
now enjoy the benefits of taking part in sport and physical activity.”
To find out more about Giving Back to Track, go to www.givingbacktotrack.org.
