Celebrated Team GB and Scotland middle- and long-distance runner, Eilish McColgan, has pledged her support to Special Olympics Great Britain (GB), the UK's largest provider of sports training and competition for people with intellectual (learning) disabilities.
Eilish, who won gold and silver medals for Scotland at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and has represented Team GB in the last four Olympic Games, becomes the Athletics Ambassador for Special Olympics GB.
She announced her new role at a training session with Special Olympics City of Hull athlete Angus Leckonby, who is bidding to break Guinness World Record titles at the TCS London Marathon as the youngest and fastest male to complete a marathon (II1).
"I’m proud to join Special Olympics GB as its Athletics Ambassador and to help raise wider awareness of how sport can change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities," said Eilish.
"I want to see athletics enjoyed by as many people as possible, and I would love to play a small part in helping Special Olympics GB develop its athletics programme and enable more of its athletes to experience the same joys of training and competition as me.
"I'm looking forward to meeting Special Olympics GB athletes in the coming months, and learning more about how our sport has enabled them to thrive and overcome the challenges presented by their disability."
In the role as Athletics Ambassador, Elish will promote and support the charity's transformational sporting opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, which are delivered at grassroots sports clubs across the country.
Beyond her athletic achievements, Eilish founded "Giving Back to Track," a non-profit organisation aimed at encouraging young people to engage in athletics and supporting the next generation of female athletes.
Laura Baxter MBE, Chief Executive of Special Olympics GB, said: "Athletics is one of the most popular sports in the Special Olympics GB movement, which has seen strong growth in the last year with the development of new national and regional competitions.
"Having one of the sport's leading figures, in Eilish, join as our Athletics Ambassador is a huge boost for everyone involved with Special Olympics GB, as we look to enhance our competition pathway and create more opportunities, at all levels, for people with intellectual disabilities.
"We're delighted to welcome Eilish to the Special Olympics GB movement, and our athletes, volunteers, and staff will be her biggest supporters in her competitions around the world."
Special Olympics GB currently supports more than 6,600 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, who participate in training and competitions, in 27 sports, at its 98 accredited clubs across England, Scotland, and Wales.