Laura Muir abandons indoor season plans after suffering back injury

Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir has been forced to abandon her indoor season after suffering a back injury.

The Scot won 1500m silver behind Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon in Tokyo last summer and had planned to run indoors this month as she builds towards a packed summer, which includes world and European championships, as well as the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

However, the 28-year-old has now pulled out of this weekend’s Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham as well as the British Indoor Championships, though she had never intended to compete at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade next month.

“I am sad to announce that I am not going to be able to compete at this weekend’s Muller Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham,” Muir wrote on Twitter. “After further investigation on Friday into an injury I sustained a few weeks ago, I have to take some time off running to recover.

“Unfortunately this means my indoor season will not happen this year. I am gutted to miss the Muller Indoor Grand Prix especially as I have such fond memories of the event from previous years.

“My training had been going very well and I was really excited to get back racing in front of a home crowd. Sorry you won’t see me racing on Saturday. The athlete line up at the Grand Prix is as world class as always and it is set to be a fantastic competition to spectate.”

Register now for one of the Evening Standard’s newsletters. From a daily news briefing to Homes & Property insights, plus lifestyle, going out, offers and more. For the best stories in your inbox, click here.