Former European champion Jo Pavey has backed Eilish McColgan as one of the favourites for Olympic gold at Paris 2024. McColgan put in a gutsy performance to become Commonwealth champion in the 10,000m in one of the biggest moments of Birmingham 2022.
Ad And five-time Olympian Pavey believes McColgan has what it takes to earn more silverware in two years' time. AthleticsJo Pavey backs Commonwealth Games to inspire nationAN HOUR AGO «I think she's definitely got a good chance the way she is running because what was impressive was the overall time that she ran in the 10,000 of 30:48, it's such a quick pace,»Pavey explained. «Yet she still produced the sixty-three last lap, which is really up there with being competitive with the best in the world going forward. »She did not have such a good World Championship, she was coming off feeling not well, and I think things had not gone brilliantly going into the World Champs compared to how she then was able to pick herself up and perform even better at the Commonwealth Games. «The way she performed at the Games, bearing in mind she seems to be getting better all the time, the way she produced such an impressive last lap, is showing that she can be up there challenging for medals with the best in the world.» Pavey was speaking as The National Lottery revealed research that shows that 80% of parents believe that the presence of sporting role models can play a key role in encouraging their children to be more active.
The two-time Commonwealth medallist explained how McColgan's mum Liz, a double Commonwealth champion in the 10,000m, was an inspiration to her and is excited that the next generation can look up to Eilish in the same way.