Career Timeline of Eilish McColgan: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Eilish McColgan, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Eilish McColgan is a prominent Scottish middle- and long-distance runner. She achieved significant success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, securing gold in the 10,000 metres (setting a Games record) and silver in the 5000 metres. McColgan has also earned four European Championships medals, including silver medals in the 5000m (2018) and 10,000m (2022), a bronze in the 5000m (2022), and a bronze in the indoor 3000m (2017). Furthermore, she holds the European record for the 10 km road race, and the British records for the 5000m, 10,000m, 5 km, and half marathon. She also holds the European best for 10 miles on the roads, demonstrating her versatility and dominance in various distances.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2006: Silver Medal at Scottish Schools Championships

In 2006, Eilish McColgan won a silver medal at the Scottish Schools Championships in the 1500 metres and a bronze medal at the International Under-17s Schools Championships.

2007: Fifth Place in Scottish Senior Championships

In 2007, Eilish McColgan came fifth in the Scottish Senior Championships 1500 metres.

2008: Bronze Medal at Scottish Indoor Championships

At the 2008 Scottish Indoor Championships Eilish McColgan won a bronze medal in the 1500 m.

2008: Commonwealth Youth Games Selection and Knee Injury

In 2008, Eilish McColgan was selected for the Commonwealth Youth Games in India but suffered a major knee injury, which took a year-and-a-half to recover from.

2011: Senior Debut and Foot Injury

In 2011, Eilish McColgan came fourth in the 1500 metres at the UK Indoor Championships, won gold at the Scottish University Championships, made her senior debut for Great Britain at the European Team Championships, and won silver at the UK Outdoor Championships but missed the World Championships due to a broken foot at the London Diamond League.

June 2012: Olympic Qualification for Steeplechase

In June 2012, Eilish McColgan ran a time of 9:38.45 in Oslo, Norway, beating the Olympic 'A' qualification standard in the 3000 metres steeplechase, confirmed her qualification for the steeplechase at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by winning the British trials, and chose not to compete at the 2012 European Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

2012: Great Britain Olympics Representation

In 2012, Eilish McColgan represented Great Britain at the London Olympics.

2013: World Championships Finalist

At the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Eilish McColgan made the final in the 3000 m steeplechase, finishing 10th.

2013: Move Away From Steeplechase Due to Injury

In 2013, Eilish McColgan held the Scottish record in the 3000 metres steeplechase, but injury forced her to move away from the event.

2014: Commonwealth Games Competitor and Switch to Flat Racing

Having competed in the steeplechase at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and finished sixth, Eilish McColgan switched from the barriers to the flat following a broken ankle.

2014: Scotland Commonwealth Games Representation

In 2014, Eilish McColgan represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

2016: Selection for Rio Olympics

In 2016, Eilish McColgan placed second over 5000 m at the British Championships, securing her place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she reached the final of the women's 5000 metres.

2016: Great Britain Olympics Representation

In 2016, Eilish McColgan represented Great Britain at the Rio Olympics.

2017: European Indoor Championships Bronze Medallist

In 2017, Eilish McColgan won a bronze medal for the indoor 3000 metres at the European Championships.

2017: British Indoor Championships and European Indoor Championships Bronze

In 2017, Eilish McColgan won over 3000 m and placed second over 1500 m at the British Indoor Championships, qualifying her for the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade, where she won bronze over 3000 m. She also placed tenth over 5000 m at the London World Championships.

2018: Season Opening Win and European Championships Silver

In 2018, Eilish McColgan opened her season by winning at the Doha 10 km in a personal best of 31:53, qualified for the 3000 metres at the World Indoor Championships where she finished in tenth, won the silver medal in the 5000 metres event at the European Championships in Berlin, and won the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

2018: Scotland Commonwealth Games Representation

In 2018, Eilish McColgan represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

2018: European Championships Silver Medallist

In 2018, Eilish McColgan won a silver medal for the 5000 m at the European Championships.

2019: Scottish Record and Great South Run Title

In 2019, Eilish McColgan set a new Scottish record of 14:47.94 over 5000 m at the FBK Games, finished tenth in the 5000 m event at the World Athletics Championships, setting another Scottish record of 14:46.17, and retained her Great South Run title, setting a personal best of 51:38.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Performance

At the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan, Eilish McColgan failed to advance to the 5000 m final on 30 July, finishing in 10th place of her heat, and finished ninth in the 10,000 m event.

2020: Great Britain Olympics Representation

In 2020, Eilish McColgan represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics.

2022: Commonwealth Games Champion and European Championships Medallist

In 2022, Eilish McColgan became the Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres champion, set a Games record, won a 5000 metres silver medal, earned a silver medal in the 10,000m at the European Championships, and a bronze in the 5000m at the European Championships.

2022: Withdrawal from London Marathon and Record Invalidated

In 2022, Eilish McColgan had to withdraw from the London Marathon due to refuelling problems, and her European 10 kilometres record set at the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow was invalidated due to a short course.

2022: Scotland Commonwealth Games Representation

In 2022, Eilish McColgan represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

2022: Multiple Medals at European Championships

In 2022, Eilish McColgan secured two additional medals at the European Championships in Munich, winning a silver in the 10,000 metres and a bronze for the 5000 metres.

2024: Summer Olympics and Half Marathon Victory

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, McColgan finished fifteenth in the 10,000 m. She won on her return to the half marathon, taking victory at The Big Half in 1:09.14.