Advice to my younger self: Laura Muir
World Indoor 1500m silver medalist & European 1500m champion: "You worry if you make a mistake but, please, Laura, try and be a little more confident and believe in yourself. You have all the tools to succeed."
From IAAF.org
Laura:
Your life as a runner is in its infancy, and although you are no superstar athlete you are already forming a passion for your sport, which will motivate and inspire you all the way to a successful international career in future.
As a 12-year-old you are far from the quickest cross country runner in your region and at the Scottish Championships you finish well down the field. Yet you never chased athletics for the success. You run for the pure love of it and to set your mind free. You enjoy the satisfaction of completing a hard session; emotions which will remain with you throughout your time in the sport.
You are interested in other sports. You enjoy karate, dance and you will also play hockey for a stint, all of which gave you a good overall fitness and conditioning. Let me warn you, however, your hockey career will be relatively brief as a rapidly flying ball to the head will force you to take evasive action and make you think twice about pursuing the sport any further!
Ever since you were five and you received your pet rabbit, Mary, you have always been interested in the animal kingdom. Even at the age of 12 you are toying a future career as a marine biologist, a zookeeper or a vet. It is great that you are already thinking of your future – and it is not something that you will regret as you will go on to complete your veterinary studies.
You love all animals and even have pet rats. You find them very intelligent creatures but maybe in future, Laura, try to keep pets which live a little longer! A rat’s lifespan is often a couple of years and as you become so attached to your pets, this can cause you to be frequently upset.
Continue reading at: iaaf.org
