Jemma Reekie believes missing out on Olympic medal could be ‘a good thing’

Jemma Reekie believes her fourth-placed finish at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics could prove “the best thing” for her in the long run.

The 24-year-old fell agonisingly short of securing a medal in the 800 metres final that saw British team-mate Keely Hodgkinson claim silver.

Reekie said: “Keely deserved all the attention she got, she did an amazing performance. I feel like she deserved what she got.

“To come fourth at an Olympics was hard, but I think I move on from things quite well. I was quite excited quite quickly after, thinking ‘OK, I’ve come fourth but what can I do now to do better?’

“I’ve looked at the positive side and changed a few things in my training. So now I’m like ‘OK, maybe it’s a good thing that’s happened’ and maybe it’s going to be the best thing that’s happened in the long run, to push me forward in the 800.

“I’ve started doing gym work, I’d never lifted weights other than circuits and stuff like that. I’ve been really focusing on speed work, adding more speed work in. So hopefully we see the benefit of that this summer.”

After a disrupted indoor season during which she had food poisoning and glandular fever, Reekie is confident she will be in good shape for the Diamond League meet that takes place in Birmingham on May 21.

To come fourth at an Olympics was hard, but I think I move on from things quite well. I was quite excited quite quickly after, thinking 'OK, I've come fourth but what can I do now to do better?'- Jemma Reekie

That is set to see her race over 1500m against fellow Scot and training partner Laura Muir, the Olympic silver-medallist over the distance who has also made a recovery after missing the indoor season due to injury.

The summer ahead then features the Commonwealth Games in