Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie unexpectedly cut their high-altitude training camp, leaving their long-time coach Andy Young in South Africa. The UK Athletics confirmed the Scottish pair had returned home last week.
The governing body says staff is working with both athletes “to ensure they get the support they need” for training and competition.
Laura Muir, 29, and Jemma Reekie, 25, are training partners and friends. The two have worked with Andy Young throughout their careers, with Laura Muir winning a silver medal in the 1,500m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and bronze at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon.
Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie regularly travel with Andy Young to South Africa for training, but they had a confrontation with their coach.
“There was no collapse. I think you will find that the girls are concerned about my health if you talk to them. I felt like I wasn’t looking after myself properly”, said Andy Young.
The goal of the two athletes is to participate in the Olympics in Paris next summer.
“UK Athletics can confirm that Laura Muir and Gemma Reekie left their training venue last week to return home to the UK”, said a spokesperson for UK Athletics. “World Class Program staff and services continue to work with both athletes to ensure they receive the support they need as they review their training and competition programs for the upcoming season”, adds the statement.
Laura Muir is a Scottish middle- and long-distance runner. She is the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist in the 1,500m, having previously finished seventh in the event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Laura Muir won the bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, and has three other top-five placings in the 1,500m finals at the World Athletics Championships, finishing fifth in 2015, fourth in 2017 (where she was also sixth in the 5,000m) and fifth in 2019. She is a two-time European 1,500m champion from 2018 and 2022 as well as the 2022 Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion and 800m bronze medallist.
