What it takes to become an Olympic runner | Sport Explained

The Times spends a day with Scottish middle-distance runner Jemma Reekie as she prepares for Paris 2024.
Reekie, born in a North Ayrshire town famed for poets and smugglers. A mere 0.09 seconds off a bronze medal in the 800m in Tokyo three years ago, she confesses that’s she was then “broken”, “terrified” and “frazzled” by the lingering effects of glandular fever and the severed alliance with long-term coach Andy Young amid accusations of controlling behaviour. That was a year ago.
She knows how difficult that will be. Keely Hodgkinson is the fastest this year with a time of 1min 55.78sec. Reekie is ranked third in the world with a best ever mark of 1:56.90.
With the barring of Russian drug cheats and athletes with differences of sexual development, the 800m is more open these days, but challenges and dangers lurk with every step.
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[@jacquelinejuana34]

Thanks for sharing ❤

[@papadadyba6598]

Tu es la meilleure comme je t'aime et je t'adore beaucoup

[@tonchanthol5329]

❤❤❤

[@anrafel_38]

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[@honor9lite1337]

Grewt😮

[@user-cx4ll4rj1t]

Great video but no a great advert for kids - it's another dumbing down of Britain video. Children please work hard at school because once you have the grades and knowledge it can never be taken away from you. Most decent jobs require a degree nowadays and hopefully your parents will push you to do well at school. As for Reekie - I think she isn't fast enough to medal at the Olympics and it will be an achievement to get into the final. Running 55 or 56 for 400m just wont cut it with the top girls, sorry bit your coach should have told you this and worked on your speed - no idea why you have over raced this too, come Paris you will find it hard to peak. Wish you the best and who knows in a slow bumpy 800m - just ask Athing Mu.

[@ragger121]

You clearly don't understand anything about track and field then