The Brit was given a special presentation at the Scottish Short Course Cross Country Championships after Russian athlete Yelena Korobkina was banned for four years
This would have been the Brit’s first international medal and will add to her impressive collection of medals as Britain’s most successful athlete at the indoor championships.
Laura Muir Awarded Third Place in 3000m Final After Disqualification
Laura Muir, who was just 21 at the time, narrowly missed out on a podium place in the 3000m final in Prague, finishing fourth.
However, due to the disqualification of race winner Yelena Korobkina, who was banned for doping offences, Laura Muir’s performance was rewarded.
This means gold has gone to Belarus’ Sviatlana Kudzelich and silver for the Netherlands’ Maureen Koster.
Laura Muir at the European Indoors in 2015 (Getty)
Laura Muir’s bronze medal brings her total to an impressive 14 major medals across the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
Scottish Athletics held a special presentation at its short course championships to honor her achievement – a race that she has previously won in 2021, 2017, 2016, and 2015.
Ian Beattie, chair of UK Athletics, handed Laura Muir the bronze medal. She was also awarded with her Eric Liddell Olympic/Paralympic Achievement trophy from the Scottish Athletics Awards.
Laura Muir with Ian Beattie (Bobby Gavin)
Laura Muir Reflects on Receiving Long-Awaited Medal in Hometown Ceremony
“It is definitely mixed feelings and odd feelings but it is lovely to see and receive the actual medal and have family and friends here at Kirkcaldy,” Laura told Scottish Athletics.
“Better late than never is the phrase I suppose but we do need to keep doing these.
“I’m fortunate I am still a runner but of course it could have meant a lot to my career at that time – aged 21 and not having won my first international medal.
“People need to be held accountable and hopefully bans and rewriting results works as a deterrent down the line. We need to send a message that it isn’t acceptable.
“I want to thank European Athletics, UK Athletics and Scottish Athletics for making this happen for me. Kirkcaldy felt like a good place for it to happen and I’ve fond memories of racing in this event as a junior athlete.
“The reaction of people here today was so sweet. I wanted it to happen in Scotland and there were athletes here I’ve faced against years ago and I loved seeing so many friendly faces.”
Laura Muir with Ian Beattie (Bobby Gavin)
The event also showcased strong performances from other Scottish athletes. In the senior men’s race, Ben Potrykus from Inverclyde AC took the win, finishing just ahead of Jamie Crowe of Central AC, who was last year’s winner.
Aidan Thompson, also running for Central AC, secured the bronze, helping his team clinch gold in the team competition, with Carnethy HRC and Edinburgh University taking silver and bronze respectively.
In the senior women’s race, Nancy Scott from Edinburgh AC claimed gold, followed by Lynn McKenna (Shettleston Harriers) and former champion Morag Millar (Central AC), who took bronze.
Edinburgh AC’s strong performance earned them the team title with Edinburgh Uni taking silver and Shettleston Harriers bronze.
Laura Muir observes European Indoor decorations in 2017 on her appearance back in Scotland from Belgrade (photograph by Bobby Gavin)
Laura Muir to land bronze award from Euro Inside 2015
By Peter Jardine, Head of Interchanges
Laura Muir will accept her most recent global decoration in a field in Fife tomorrow – over nine years after the race.
Working with accomplices at European Games and UK Sports, Scottish sports are excited to organize a unique decoration show at the Lindsays Short Course XC at Kirkcaldy.
Laura will be given a bronze decoration from the 2015 European Inside following a change to the Ladies’ 3000m platform at that occasion after a doping infringement by the first gold medallist.
Ian Beattie, Seat of UK Games, will surrender the award to Laura after the Senior Ladies’ race at the Lindsays Short Course XC as we try to right a sports wrong (in the interest of European Games).
The triple Olympic finalist was just 21 years old in Prague in 2015 while completing fourth in the Ladies’ 3000m last. Decoration at the time would have been her most memorable critical global achievement.
Belgrave and Shaftesbury Barnet capture English cross-country relay crowns