Laura has the belief to take on the best after stunning double

Milnathort athlete Laura Muir says she has the confidence to take on all comers after her historic double at the European Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
Laura Muir took on the very best of Europe - and came out on top. Stock image by John Devlin.Laura Muir took on the very best of Europe - and came out on top. Stock image by John Devlin.
Laura Muir took on the very best of Europe - and came out on top. Stock image by John Devlin.

Muir raced to gold over 1500m and 3000m and grabbed headlines across the continent

After taking the 1500m gold on Saturday evening Muir returned to the track twenty hours later to contest the 3000m.

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The final soon turned into a two-horse race as Muir and Yasemin Can (Turkey) broke away following the opening four laps, opening up a 40m gap on the chasing pack.

Muir let Can force the pace but always looked in control and with 300m remaining surged into a punishing sprint that left the Turkish athlete seven seconds adrift.

Muir powered her way around the final bend taking the finish line in 8 minutes 35.67 seconds, inside the previous championship record of 8:39.49.

A smiling Muir said: “I just tried to hang in there early on,

“I just thought I’ll let Can take it out.

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“I think before in races I had the training, but not the confidence.

“Now the confidence is there it shows as much in my performance.

“I’m just delighted to come away with the win and do the double.

The Saturday evening session was a night to remember as Muir as completed the first leg of her double winning her first ever senior medal over 1500m.

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She charged to the front with six laps remaining to come home alone in 4:02.39, erasing a 34-year championship record.

Of her first senior medal Muir said: “To get that medal – I’m so happy.

“I was actually quite relaxed because I knew what I had to do and I knew that I was stronger than a lot of the girls – I knew that if I got out pretty early then I’d be fine. I didn’t expect someone to be on my shoulder with 300m to go, but I just put the welly in and managed to come away with the win.”

Kinross athlete Eilidh Child led out the GB 4 x 400m relay quartet to a sliver.