Eilish McColgan: Mother Liz says body-shaming 'demeaning and abusive'

Eilish McColgan, the Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion, has faced body shaming on social media, with her mother and coach, Liz, describing the comments as "demeaning and insulting." Liz's remarks aim to condemn online abuse and call for an end to malicious attacks on female athletes, emphasizing the need for respect and understanding.

Eilish, who is currently training for next month's London Marathon, posted a video of herself running on a treadmill on Saturday. However, some viewers questioned whether she was suffering from an eating disorder, prompting a wave of concern and speculation. Eilish subsequently posted a message on social media, quoting some of the comments and writing: "Some people simply have no idea how much you have to fuel your body to do this type of training. A bunch of clowns."

Liz, an Olympic 10,000m silver medalist and former world champion, responded to the post, stating: "Stop being jealous and abusing female athletes and don't post ridiculous and stupid comments online. As a parent, I'm not worried about Eilish because she has a strong enough character to deal with these people. I worry about other children and athletes who aren't strong enough in character, and how they will cope with these demeaning and insulting comments about their appearance." This highlights the broader impact of online harassment on vulnerable individuals.

British 1500m champion Neil Gourley also condemned the "appalling behavior" directed at Eilish, adding that she was a "role model" for calling it out. Gourley, in an interview with BBC Scotland, stated: "I've been quite lucky that I've not had too much of that during my career. There's a misogynistic element to it, and it's really embarrassing to see." His support underscores the solidarity within the athletic community against online abuse.

Eilish previously responded to social media comments about her weight in 2019, stating: "Go and body shame somewhere else." This incident once again raises concerns about online abuse and the mental health of athletes, demanding more proactive measures. If you or someone you know is affected by the issues raised in this article, please visit BBC Action Line to find information about organizations that can help.