By Tom Harle, Sportsbeat

Long-distance runner Megan Keith credits the University of Edinburgh with facilitating her rapid sporting rise.

Having only competed in her first 10,000m race on the track in March, Keith went on to win European bronze and was crowned British champion over the distance in 2024.

The 22-year-old is in her final year of study at the capital institution, the support of which she believes has been indispensable to her progression.

(Image: Andrew Perry)

“When I came here, I was still competing as a junior and they’ve helped support me through as seamless a transition from junior to senior as you get,” said Keith, who studies sports science. “Within the UK professional ranks, that’s easier said than done. To have the financial support, then the training and academic support to allow me to compete, it’s been pretty imperative in my last few years.

“There is a state-of-the-art gym at the university and strength and conditioning wasn’t something I did at all before coming here, the university has supported me for that to become a regular part of my training.

“Particularly around competition time, they have people who help us with academic commitments and our exams as much as possible and whether that requires extensions. It makes it all less stressful than it would be otherwise. Having all of that behind you, it’s really special.”

Keith registered a number of personal bests in the 2024 season, including over 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m, enough to earn her a place at her maiden Olympics in Paris.

After suffering an injury in the early part of the summer, Keith was unable to show her best in the French capital.

“We were keeping on top of the injury as best we could but it just meant I couldn’t train exactly how I wanted to,” said Keith, speaking to promote The University of Edinburgh Celebration of Sport event which took place at The Playfair Library on Tuesday evening.

“I managed to maintain a pretty good level of fitness but unfortunately I couldn’t show on the night at the Olympics.

“I did what I could with the hand I was dealt. 90 percent of the season went well so I’m trying to focus on the good bits. I think you learn a lot more from the bad bits than you do the good bits, so I’ll take a lot forward from that experience and I don’t doubt it will stand me in good stead in the future.”

Megan Keith was speaking to promote The University of Edinburgh Celebration of Sport event which took place at The Playfair Library on Tuesday evening. For more information on University of Edinburgh Sport visit www.uoesport.ed.ac.uk