Track Tardis: Yvonne knows Glasgow will take her back 31 years

Friday 9th February 2024

Yvonne Murray savours a gold medal moment at the 1993 World Indoors in Canada (photo by Mark Shearman)

The big reveal: World Indoors 2024 medals are unveiled by top Scots

By Peter Jardine, Head of Communications

Yvonne Murray-Mooney will take her seat for three days of stellar track and field action at the World Indoors 2024 with her interest sharpened by her own superb career.

And, come the Sunday afternoon, with Laura Muir among the medal hopes in the Women’s 3000m final, the Emirates Arena will suddenly become an athletics Tardis for Yvonne.

The Scottish track legend expects to travel back in time fully 31 years, and across the Atlantic, to the World Indoors in Toronto’s Skydome in the spring of 1993.

Yvonne won gold over 3000m in Canada that year with a stunning and audacious display of front-running.

So the trip down this particular Memory Lane promises to be an emotional one on Sunday 3 March in Glasgow.

‘I am going to be at the World Indoors for three days and I am really looking forward to it,’ Yvonne told Scottish Athletics in a special interview.

‘Come the Sunday afternoon I will be there for the 3000m Women’s 3000m final and I know that, even after 31 years, I will be thinking back to Canada.

‘I took gold in the World indoors in Toronto that year and that Women’s 3000m victory is a very special memory from my career.

‘I know the adrenaline, the emotion and the nerves that Laura will feel that day. And when the track Official says ‘On Your Marks’ that day I just know I am going to be transported back 31 years.’

Yvonne won in Canada in 8:50.55 and with a staggering winning margin of 12 seconds. Taking a few moments to watch reruns on YouTube is well worth it for any athletics afficionado.

‘I am so proud of that gold medal and I wasn’t event meant to be there,’ she smiled.

‘It was one we added into the competition programme at almost the last moment. It wasn’t in the schedule and everything was quite last minute.

‘To go and take the race on from the front right from the start and then win by a really big margin was one of the most pleasing moments of my career.

‘I have given the spikes from that race to the MOWA World Indoors Exhibition in Glasgow because that connects up so well.’

Yvonne with her spikes from Toronto and now gifted to the MOWA World Indoors Exhibition in Glasgow (photo by Mark Gibson)

Laura will be seeking to emulate Yvonne come the Glasgow event and, watching now from afar, Murray-Mooney is a huge fan of the stars of today.

‘I am bowled over by the current generation to be honest – they impress me so much,’ said the Musselburgh-born icon.

‘There is strength and there is a bit of depth in Scottish endurance running at the moment.

‘We have Laura Muir, Jemma Reekie and Eilish McColgan who are all top, top athletes. And then we have had two World champions in Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman.

‘It feels like another cycle has come along and we just had to be patient waiting for it to arrive.

‘Scots are delivering world class performances on the global stage and it is wonderful for the sport here.

‘We all want to support them, help them, coach them and develop them. At all the levels. That is how you get momentum in sport.

‘There will be a wee bit of extra pressure on the Scots at the World Indoors but I feel sure they can handle it It is a championship event but you just have to treat it like it is any other race. You do the same things. Mentally that should help.

‘There will be nerves and anxiety but they are experienced athletes. You just need to go out there and give it your best shot – so that you don’t have regrets later.’