Picture by way of Getty Pictures for British Athletics
Neil Gourley landed the worldwide medal his profession absolutely merits in China on Sunday.
The Scot pulled off his gameplan fantastically to take silver at the back of Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the International Indoors in Nanjing.
Neil was once named captain of the GB and Ni workforce previous within the week and now he has doubled his global medal tally after silver within the Eu Indoors two years in the past.
Two weeks in the past, in fact, the British champion completed an agonising and irritating fourth on the Eu Indoors in Apeldoorn – so this was once impressive redemption for the Giffnock North AC native hero.
Congratulations to Neil, trainer Stephen Haas, his circle of relatives and all concerned at Giffnock who helped in his building over numerous years.
Ingebrigtsen finished but any other double – successful on Sunday within the 1500m ultimate after taking 3000m gold the night time ahead of. Neil was once ‘ best of the rest’ at 3:39.07.
‘‘It feels really good,’ stated Neil.
‘A few weeks in the past I got here away truly upset from the Eu Indoors. So I had some degree to end up . . . now not such a lot to somebody else however to myself, my workforce that experience installed the entire paintings.
‘I needed to display I’m able for one thing larger. I’m so satisfied I got here out right here and attempted to end up that, pay off the entire folks that experience helped me get right here.
‘It was a change in tactics today. To some extent it was a case of ‘if you can’t beat him, sign up for him’. So the plan was once ‘when he shifts up in momentum I am going to be right there behind him’.
‘That labored out higher lately. It ensured I fed off his momentum relatively than taking a look round and react to what he’s doing. It felt significantly better doing it that means. I felt in keep watch over the entire time, I simply left myself a little bit an excessive amount of to do in the house directly to catch Jakob. However I’m truly happy how I competed at the international degree lately.
‘This time closing yr I watched the International Indoors as I used to be injured, truly injured and may slightly stroll at this level closing yr. Andit was once taking place in my house the town in Glasgow.
‘I’ve been serious about that and the way I controlled to make the lineup lately for an international ultimate. The whole thing else was once an advantage and I went in with the mentality that ‘anything else is imaginable”.
Neil with Giffnock children closing yr on his go back from the Olympics (photograph by way of Colin Mearns)
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Tags:
China, Giffnock North, Neil Gourley, International Indoors