What it takes to become an Olympic runner | Sport Explained

The Times spends a day with Scottish middle-distance runner Jemma Reekie as she prepares for Paris 2024.

Reekie, born in a North Ayrshire town famed for poets and smugglers. A mere 0.09 seconds off a bronze medal in the 800m in Tokyo three years ago, she confesses that’s she was then “broken”, “terrified” and “frazzled” by the lingering effects of glandular fever and the severed alliance with long-term coach Andy Young amid accusations of controlling behaviour. That was a year ago.

She knows how difficult that will be. Keely Hodgkinson is the fastest this year with a time of 1min 55.78sec. Reekie is ranked third in the world with a best ever mark of 1:56.90.

With the barring of Russian drug cheats and athletes with differences of sexual development, the 800m is more open these days, but challenges and dangers lurk with every step.

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