Eilish McColgan’s win four years ago made her a Scottish sporting heroine – sadly the distance runner won’t be competing in Glasgow (Getty Images/SNS Group)
Four years ago in Birmingham, Eilish McColgan produced the run of her life to win the women’s 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games.
On the final lap of the event, she burst around the last turn and outkicked Kenya’s Irene Chepet Cheptai to set a new Games record of 30 minutes, 48.60 seconds.
In doing so she became a Scottish sporting heroine — and matched her mother Liz, who had won the same event in Edinburgh in 1986 — while breaking her mum’s 32-year-old Games record.
Sadly for McColgan and Scottish sports fans, Eilish will not be able to defend her title in Glasgow, after aggravating a foot injury in the London Marathon – she has been ruled out with a stress fracture.
“Sadly, I won’t be competing at Glasgow 2026,” she said in a statement. “After almost 10 weeks out, it probably won’t come as a huge surprise.
“The good news is I’m back running. The bad news is I’ve simply run out of time to get myself, and my toe, back into spikes.
“Having started the year stronger than ever, I know the fitness is there but having only taken my first run outdoors a couple of weeks ago, the clock was always against me.
“I’ll be in Glasgow all week cheering on Team Scotland and wish everyone on the team the best of luck at the Games.”