Eilish McColgan, the current Commonwealth Games champion in the 10,000 meters, courageously shared her experiences with body shaming during a press conference held on Thursday. As she gears up for her highly anticipated marathon debut at the London Marathon, McColgan expressed her determination to confront online negativity and foster a healthier mindset among her followers.

McColgan's aspirations extend beyond merely finishing the marathon; she also aims to break the personal best set by her legendary mother, Liz McColgan. Liz achieved an impressive time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 52 seconds while winning the London Marathon in 1996 and securing a runner-up position in 1997. This personal connection to her mothers legacy adds an emotional depth to McColgans ambitions, enhancing the significance of her upcoming marathon debut.

Reflecting on her journey, McColgan recounted a particularly distressing incident from March when her mother posted a training video of her online. The reaction was overwhelmingly negative, filled with derogatory and abusive comments that unjustly labeled her as anorexic. "I've become pretty numb to it," McColgan remarked, acknowledging that such comments are not new to her. Although she has developed a thick skin over the years, she admitted that the frequency and nature of these comments remain disheartening, especially when they originate from individuals who often hide behind anonymous profiles.

McColgan pointed out a disturbing trend in online communications, where some of her critics do use their real names and images. This prompted her to take action she reached out to a few of these individuals directly. Among them were a teacher and a man with three daughters, to whom she expressed her disappointment in their harmful behavior. "The only reason I call it out from time to time is that I know I have a lot of young kids who follow me, and I dont want them to read it and think the reason Im that fast is because Im starving myself to do it," she stated firmly, emphasizing her commitment to being a positive role model.

McColgan's resolve to combat body shaming stems from her desire to inspire the next generation of athletes. "I want people to see that whats being said is not my reality; its actually the complete opposite of that," she elaborated. She believes that prioritizing physical health is essential for long-term success in any athletic career, irrespective of the negativity encountered online.

In response to the toxic environment prevalent on social media platforms, McColgan suggested that social media accounts should be verified and linked to official identification to help mitigate online harassment. Notably, the London Marathon has not made any posts on its official social media accounts since January, attributing this hiatus to a decline in positive engagement.

Despite the challenges she faces, McColgan is committed to sharing her journey with her audience. "Ive had a couple of people message to say they get bullied at school because of the way they look, so its helped them because if Im in my 30s and still getting bullied for the way I look, it gives them a little more confidence to fight their corner," she said, emphasizing her role as a positive influence in their lives.

Looking toward the future, McColgan has set her sights on competing in the marathon at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. As she prepares for the demanding 26.2-mile race this Sunday, she admits to feeling a mix of trepidation and excitement. "Im absolutely bricking it. Ive never been this scared! Its completely unknown," she confessed, reflecting on her training experiences. Despite having successfully completed long training runs of up to 21 miles, the thought of pushing beyond that threshold is daunting for her.

With the marathon debut rapidly approaching, Eilish McColgan finds herself racing against not just the clock but also the harmful narratives that can afflict athletes in the public eye. Her courageous stand against body shaming serves as a powerful reminder of the essential values of empathy and kindness, both within sports and across social media platforms.