Image source, Getty Images
- author, Richard Winton
- role, BBC Sport Scotland
European Athletics Championships
where: Olympic Stadium, Rome when: June 7-12
How to follow: Watch live on the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer
Not long ago, Ailish McColgan couldn't take a step without pain.
The 33-year-old was confident she would be able to compete again, but was faced with the reality that her knee injury meant daily discomfort and that running would no longer be fun.
The Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion had all but accepted a fourth Olympic appearance was out of the question after surgery in the autumn failed to resolve lingering issues.
As recently as March, Britain's McColgan was being told by those around her to give up on a medal chance in Paris at the end of the summer. At that point, she was listening.
But on Sunday the Scotsman will travel to Rome to compete in the 10,000m at the European Athletics Championships.
“To be honest, it's just time,” she told BBC Scotland. “I don't know why there has been such a big improvement in the last six weeks.”
“Until then, I thought I'd have to deal with the pain every day for the rest of my life. Mentally, it's really, really tough.”
“We didn’t really know what the problem was, we had doctors who misinterpreted my scans and said I might never walk again, let alone run.
“So, I've come a long way from all that to making Paris a realistic goal for me.”
But first McColgan must earn his place in the British team.
She is one of two athletes, along with fellow Scotsman Megan Keith, who met the qualification criteria.
There are three openings, so if she can prove healthy, she has a good chance of being selected.
The task begins on Tuesday in Rome. So what does the 2022 European Championships silver medallist think about her performance?
“I [personal best] “I feel good but I am very aware that I have to produce some results before the Olympics,” McColgan said.
“I can't just sit at home and think I'm going to be picked. I have to prove I'm OK, but I have nothing to lose.”
“If you would have asked me six weeks ago I would have said I was completely unprepared for the European Championships, but I'm starting to see signs that I can still be competitive.”
“Will I be competing for gold in Paris? No, but I am aiming to be top of Britain and top of Europe. Those are pretty realistic goals for me.”
