Latest news with #SarahCalvert
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Livingston runner who beat Laura Muir sets sights on GB place at World Championships
Sarah Calvert stunned elite athlete Muir to win the UK 1500m title A Livingston post-grad medical student who pipped Laura Muir to a major UK title has set her sights on making the GB team for next month's World Championships. Sarah Calvert, 24, became an overnight sensation after beating Muir to the 1500m post by five hundredths of a second at the UK Championships in Birmingham in the first weekend of August, and joked that she knew of her fame when a Wikipedia page appeared. Former Linlithgow Academy pupil Calvert has now set her sights on achieving the 4.01.50 World Championships qualifying standard for Tokyo. She told BBC Sport: 'As soon as I crossed the line, I knew it was crazy. I knew this was the biggest moment of my life. 'Afterwards, I had my first anti-doping test, so that was another good experience. 'Since then, I've had so many messages from people from school, from all my friends, from my parents' friends – it makes it all seem very special. 'My dad sent me a text to tell me I've got a Wikipedia page now. It's just kind of insane. I didn't really expect it to blow up like this. 'It feels incredible. I did not expect this ever to happen, but especially not with being busy in May, studying for exams – that was pretty stressful for me.' Livingston Athletics Club runner Calvert, who is studying at Edinburgh University, reckoned she had 'absolutely no chance' of making the GB team for Tokyo, but said: 'It still seems pretty far off, because I need to run a big personal best, I think I just have to go for it.' Calvert's career was nearly over before it began, as she underwent an operation for the back condition scoliosis aged 15, leaving her sidelined for a year. 'It was a really tough and scary time in my life,' Calvert told Scottish Athletics. 'I had metal rods inserted in my back and, yes, they are still there. 'My family and I went through a lot at that time, and couldn't do any exercise at all for a year. 'I remember at the time thinking 'when will I get back to running again', will I even be able to improve my personal bests? I was thinking 'will I ever run again'. 'Then, getting back, it took so long to be fit. I never knew if I would win races again, and get to the top in my age groups.' Now, aged 25, Sarah trains in the morning, cycles to a hospital placement and trains in the evenings. She said: 'I often worry that I'm compromising running for medicine and then the other way around, but I think I just have to accept that I want to be a runner, and I want to be a doctor at some point in my life. 'So for now, the best way for me to do it is to combine the two. I rarely have to miss training for medicine, so I make it work pretty well.' Calvert clocked a Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 4mins 04.33secs to finish fourth at the Flanders International meeting in Oordegem, Belgium, taking almost four seconds off her personal best. Though outside the World Championships qualifying time, she still has time to chase the Tokyo mark. Sarah's younger sister Isla is also a middle-distance runner.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
West Lothian's new British Champion wasn't sure she'd run again after having steel rods inserted in her back
The 24-year-old Livingston AC athlete had surgery for scoliosis as a teenager British 1500m Champion Sarah Calvert has revealed that she wasn't sure if she would ever run again following an operation as a teenager for a serious back condition. The 24-year-old Livingston AC athlete has scoliosis – a condition where the spine curves abnormally to the side. She underwent surgery to alleviate it and had metal rods installed in her back. Sarah is now Women's British Champion at 1500m, after a stunning victory in Birmingham where she beat Laura Muir into second place by five-hundredths of a second. It's now been revealed that University of Edinburgh student Sarah didn't run or exercise for a year in her mid-teens following the surgery. At one stage in 2015, the former Linlithgow Academy pupil didn't know if she would run again or ever achieve even moderate age group success in athletics. 'When I was aged 15 I underwent surgery for scoliosis,' said Sarah. 'It was a really tough and scary time in my life. I had metal rods inserted in my back and, yes, they are still there. 'My family and I went through a lot at that time and I couldn't do any exercise at all for a year. 'I remember at the time thinking when will I get back to running again, will I even be able to improve my Personal Bests? 'I was thinking: will I ever run again? 'Then, getting back, it took so long to be fit. I never knew if I would win races again and get to the top in my age groups.' Time proved a great healer for Sarah and by 2017 she was winning medals at Scottish Schools events and Scottish Age Group Champs. Sarah is coached by Luke Gunn and is part of the University of Edinburgh endurance project in partnership with Scottish Athletics. Senior Scottish titles in recent years at 800m and 1500m at Grangemouth hinted at more to come and the past few weeks have seen her on the podium at the World Universities in Germany – the first Scot to do so in individual events since 1997 – and earn that British Champion title. Sarah continued: 'My injury history over the past years has probably all been connected to issues with my back. 'I have to work with that and I do try to forget about what happened (in 2015 with the surgery). It does not affect me now. 'Nevertheless I would not have expected to reach this level in the sport, to be honest. 'But I suppose the way to look at it is: If I could overcome that, then I can overcome anything else which may come my way. 'I have had Achilles injuries and so on but it has not been my spine again – so somehow, sometimes, I've been able to think positively.' Sarah revealed during an interview with BBC Scotland that her dreams of success pre-date her scoliosis diagnosis, and were nurtured by visits to Hampden for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Now she's targeting the Games when they return to the city next year. 'I've always had big dreams of going to major championships but I'm unsure if I ever really believed they were possible,' said Sarah. 'Now I have the belief that if I do keep training consistently then this could be possible. I feel like I could write these goals down and try to achieve them next year. 'The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would be great because all my family and friends could come and watch me. It seems like something I don't want to miss out on. 'I remember going to watch Lynsey Sharp in the 800m [Glasgow 2014] when she won her silver medal and I was so excited. 'I was just a young girl at Livingston Athletics Club and this was my first taste of what it could be like and what I could achieve when I was older.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
I feared that I'd never run again, says Scot who pipped Laura Muir at the post
New British 1500m champion Sarah Calvert has revealed how she feared her running career was over before it had really begun. The 24-year-old Scot produced the shock result of the UK Championships in Birmingham last weekend with victory over compatriot and Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir by five hundredths of a second. But now Calvert has recalled how she didn't run for a year in her mid-teens following surgery for scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves abnormally. At one stage in 2015, she didn't know if she would run again or achieve even moderate age-group success in athletics. Her recovery was gradual but senior Scottish titles in recent years at 800m and 1500m at Grangemouth hinted at more to come. Now the past few weeks have seen her on the podium at the World Universities in Germany — the first Scot to do so in individual events since 1997 — and then become British champion. 'When I was aged 15 I underwent surgery for scoliosis,' said the Livingston AC athlete and Edinburgh University student. 'It was a really tough and scary time in my life. I had metal rods inserted in my back and, yes, they are still there. 'My family and I went through a lot at that time and I couldn't do any exercise at all for a year. 'I remember at the time thinking when will I get back to running again, will I even be able to improve my personal bests? I was thinking: 'Will I ever run again?' 'Then, getting back, it took so long to be fit. I never knew if I would win races again and get to the top in my age groups.' Time proved a healer and, by 2017, she was winning medals at Scottish Schools events and Scottish Age Group championships. 'My injury history over the past years have probably all been connected to issues with my back,' added Calvert, who is coached by Luke Gunn and is part of the Edinburgh University endurance project in partnership with Scottish Athletics. 'I have to work with that and I do try to forget about what happened (in 2015 with the surgery). It does not affect me now. 'Nevertheless, I would not have expected to reach this level (British champion) in the sport, to be honest. 'But I suppose the way to look at it is: if I could overcome that, then I can overcome anything else which may come my way. 'I have had Achilles injuries and so on but it has not been my spine again — so somehow, sometimes, I've been able to think positively.' Her athletic dreams pre-dated the scoliosis diagnosis and, in fact, were nurtured by visits to Hampden for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. 'I've always had big dreams of going to major championships but I'm unsure if I ever really believed they were possible,' Calvert told BBC Scotland. 'Now I have the belief that, if I do keep training consistently, then this could be possible. I feel like I could write these goals down and try to achieve them next year. 'The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would be great because all my family and friends could come and watch me. It seems like something I don't want to miss out on. 'I remember going to watch Lynsey Sharp in the 800m when she won her silver medal [at Glasgow 2014] and I was so excited.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Meet post-grad medic who stunned Muir at UK Champs
Up until last weekend, there's a fair chance you may not have heard the name Sarah Calvert. Yet, there's not much chance of the 24-year-old post-grad medicine student going under the radar now. Her spectacular arrival on the British middle-distance scene has changed everything. That also applies to the Livingston native herself thanks to her becoming Scotland's new UK 1500m champion after pipping Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir to the title in Birmingham. "It feels incredible," said Calvert. "I did not expect this ever to happen, but especially not with being busy in May studying for exams, that was pretty stressful for me. "As soon as I crossed the line I knew it was crazy. I knew this was the biggest moment of my life. Afterwards I had my first anti-doping test, so that was another good experience. "Since then I've had so many messages from people from school, from all my friends, from my parents' friends. It makes it all seem very special." Calvert's sporting status is such that she's now chasing fast races in Europe to try to make the British team for next month's World Championships. It's her social status that has taken her, and her family, by surprise due to her newly found fame. "My dad sent me a text yesterday to tell me I've got a Wikipedia page now, " she told BBC Scotland at Edinburgh's Meadowbank stadium, one of her regular training venues when she gives herself a break from her studies at Edinburgh University. "It's just kind of insane. I didn't really expect it to blow up like this." Winning one of the top events in the UK calendar will do that kind of thing for your profile. She now has an agent who is hunting down races to see if she can take six seconds off her personal best and run herself into the GB team for Tokyo at the World Championships. And while Calvert is ready to give it her best shot, her life amid the chaos at the moment is still grounded in reality. She wants to be a doctor, as well as an athlete, and has tried to walk the fine line between excelling at both. "Before last weekend I would have said absolutely no chance," she conceded of making the World Championships. "It still seems pretty far off because I need to run a big personal best. I think I just have to go for it. "I definitely feel busy, day to day, when I'm at uni. Training in the morning, cycling to hospital for my placement and then training in the evening again. But I enjoy both. "I often worry that I'm compromising running for medicine and then the other way around, but I think I just have to accept that I want to be a runner and I want to be a doctor at some point in my life. "So for now the best way for me to do it is to combine the two. I rarely have to miss training for medicine so I think I make it work pretty well." Dreams of Glasgow Quite the understatement, given the cream of British 1500m running couldn't contain her late surge down the final straight in Birmingham. Including her idol Muir, who also managed to balance her vet studies with a hugely successful athletics career. Being British champion – having already taken a silver medal at the recent World University Games - is already opening new doors for Calvert. Sponsors are getting in touch about endorsements, and if she does qualify for the World Championships, the global stage will lift her profile and marketability even further. And if Tokyo is a step too far, there's a big event on home soil next summer which she's already circling on the 2026 calendar. She already has the 800m qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She's now targeting the 1500m time to maximise her chances. "I've always had big dreams of going to major championships but I'm unsure if I ever really believed they were possible," said the 24-year-old. "Now I have the belief that if I do keep training consistently then this could be possible. I feel like I could write these goals down and try to achieve them next year. "The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would be great because all my family and friends could come and watch me. It seems like something I don't want to miss out on. "It would mean so much to me. I remember going to watch Lynsey Sharp in the 800m when she won her silver medal [at Glasgow 2014] and I was so excited. I was just a young girl at Livingston Athletics Club and this was my first taste of what it could be like and what I could achieve when I was older. "I didn't ever think I'd be the one on the track there, but I won't turn down the opportunity and I'll make the most of it." 'It's crazy' - Calvert shocks Muir in biggest upset Kerr feels 'strong enough' to retain world title Asher-Smith and Hughes break records at UK Champs
BBC News
06-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Meet post-grad medic who stunned Muir at UK Champs
Up until last weekend, there's a fair chance you may not have heard the name Sarah Calvert. Yet, there's not much chance of the 24-year-old post-grad medicine student going under the radar now. Her spectacular arrival on the British middle-distance scene has changed everything. That also applies to the Livingston native herself thanks to her becoming Scotland's new UK 1500m champion after pipping Olympic silver medalist Laura Muir to the title in Birmingham."It feels incredible," said Calvert. "I did not expect this ever to happen, but especially not with being busy in May studying for exams, that was pretty stressful for me."As soon as I crossed the line I knew it was crazy. I knew this was the biggest moment of my life. Afterwards I had my first anti-doping test, so that was another good experience. "Since then I've had so many messages from people from school, from all my friends, from my parents' friends. It makes it all seem very special."Calvert's sporting status is such that she's now chasing fast races in Europe to try to make the British team for next month's World Championships. It's her social status that has taken her, and her family, by surprise due to her newly found fame."My dad sent me a text yesterday to tell me I've got a Wikipedia page now, " she told BBC Scotland at Edinburgh's Meadowbank stadium, one of her regular training venues when she gives herself a break from her studies at Edinburgh University."It's just kind of insane. I didn't really expect it to blow up like this."Winning one of the top events in the UK calendar will do that kind of thing for your profile. She now has an agent who is hunting down races to see if she can take six seconds off her personal best and run herself into the GB team for Tokyo at the World while Calvert is ready to give it her best shot, her life amid the chaos at the moment is still grounded in reality. She wants to be a doctor, as well as an athlete, and has tried to walk the fine line between excelling at both."Before last weekend I would have said absolutely no chance," she conceded of making the World Championships. "It still seems pretty far off because I need to run a big personal best. I think I just have to go for it. "I definitely feel busy, day to day, when I'm at uni. Training in the morning, cycling to hospital for my placement and then training in the evening again. But I enjoy both."I often worry that I'm compromising running for medicine and then the other way around, but I think I just have to accept that I want to be a runner and I want to be a doctor at some point in my life."So for now the best way for me to do it is to combine the two. I rarely have to miss training for medicine so I think I make it work pretty well." Dreams of Glasgow Quite the understatement, given the cream of British 1500m running couldn't contain her late surge down the final straight in Birmingham. Including her idol Muir, who also managed to balance her vet studies with a hugely successful athletics career. Being British champion – having already taken a silver medal at the recent World University Games - is already opening new doors for Calvert. Sponsors are getting in touch about endorsements, and if she does qualify for the World Championships, the global stage will lift her profile and marketability even further. And if Tokyo is a step too far, there's a big event on home soil next summer which she's already circling on the 2026 already has the 800m qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She's now targeting the 1500m time to maximise her chances."I've always had big dreams of going to major championships but I'm unsure if I ever really believed they were possible," said the 24-year-old. "Now I have the belief that if I do keep training consistently then this could be possible. I feel like I could write these goals down and try to achieve them next year. "The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would be great because all my family and friends could come and watch me. It seems like something I don't want to miss out on."It would mean so much to me. I remember going to watch Lynsey Sharp in the 800m when she won her silver medal [at Glasgow 2014] and I was so excited. I was just a young girl at Livingston Athletics Club and this was my first taste of what it could be like and what I could achieve when I was older. "I didn't ever think I'd be the one on the track there, but I won't turn down the opportunity and I'll make the most of it."
