Laura receives 2015 European Indoors medal at cross country in Fife

Saturday 2nd November 2024

Photo by Bobby Gavin

Laura Muir thanked the cross country community in Scotland for their support after a ‘better late than never’ medal moment.

Scottish Athletics set up a special reallocated medal presentation from the European Indoors in 2015 at our Lindsays Short Course XC in Kirkcaldy.

Ian Beattie, chair of UK Athletics, handed Laura the bronze medal her performance in Prague deserved after a doping violation by a Russian athlete.

And the cheers and applause filled the November atmosphere in a park in Fife as Laura displayed the medal and posed for countless selfies.

‘It is definitely mixed feelings and odd feelings but it is lovely to see and receive the actual medal and have family and friends here at Kirkcaldy,’ said Laura.

‘Better late than never is the phrase I suppose but we do need to keep doing these.

‘I’m fortunate I am still a runner but of course it could have meant a lot to my career at that time – aged 21 and not having won my first international medal.

‘People need to be held accountable and hopefully bans and rewriting results works as a deterrent down the line. We need to send a message that it isn’t acceptable.

‘I want to thank European Athletics, UK Athletics and Scottish Athletics for making this happen for me. Kirkcaldy felt like a good place for it to happen and I’ve fond memories of racing in this event as a Junior athlete.

‘The reaction of people here today was so sweet. I wanted it to happen in Scotland and there were athletes here I’ve faced against years ago and I loved seeing so many friendly faces.’