It was never about a medal for Laura Muir on her Glasgow return.
The middle-distance runner is the only female in Team Scotland to have been part of both the 2014 and 2026 team, but she couldn’t be more of a different athlete.
Twelve years ago, the then-21-year-old was not used to the sound of slabs of metal clanging around her neck or even hearing her name in medal-winning conversations.
She didn’t leave those Games with those things, either.
But on her return to Glasgow for the 2026 edition, the 33-year-old bounced along to the sound of silverware clattering and with the title as one of the best at her business in the last decade in tow.
She clocked back into the city carrying little pressure, competing in the 5,000m – as her speciality, the 1,500m was not on the programme – with the hopes of learning new things in her bid to challenge in two years time at the Olympics.
She crossed the finish line in 16th and collapsed onto the track, tugging at her side.
“I felt great for the first 2km,” Muir told BBC Sport Scotland. “I was loving it and then I got a stitch at 3km.
“Trying to run and breathe properly for another 2km was a bit rough but I just wanted to finish.
“I was like, ‘I don’t care how slow I’m gonna run, I’m gonna finish,’ so I finished but yeah that was a bit brutal and a bittersweet because the crowd were unreal and the atmosphere was phenomenal.”
Megan Keith played a big part in that. The Inverness-born runner pocketed something of an unexpected bronze, but Muir couldn’t be happier for her – even if she didn’t see her memorable moment.
“I’m usually really focused on my race but I was aware of how well she was doing because the crowd were going mental,” 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Muir added.
“I was looking up at the screens and I was gutted I didn’t see it.
“I was like, ‘I want to see it!’ But, it’s amazing for her, she’s such a talented athlete and I think she’s not necessarily had the exposure or been on the podium yet, so what a way to do it, though. I’m proud.”
Muir is also proud of herself. Well, as much as she allows herself to be. She said 12 years ago she never would have believed she’d be back here as a reigning champion, but she’s grateful to have the chance to “enjoy” a home Games a little bit more.
“I think there is only five of us from that team [2014] that are here, I’m the only woman, so that’s pretty special, I’m very proud of that,” Muir added.
“It’s nice, I didn’t put a lot of pressure on myself for these Games, I just wanted to enjoy it and soak it all up.
“I’m just disappointed I couldn’t have enjoyed that more out there.”
