Olympic Star Eilish McColgan Inspires Crowd at Oswestry School

Olympic athlete and British distance running star Eilish McColgan took to the stage at Oswestry School yesterday evening (Monday, 8 September) to share the story of her remarkable athletics career in front of a packed audience.

Fresh from her third-place finish at the 2025 Great North Run this past weekend, Eilish gave a captivating and heartfelt talk that took attendees on a journey through her life—from growing up in a family of elite runners to becoming a Commonwealth Games champion and one of the UK’s most successful long-distance athletes.

The daughter of Olympic silver medallist Liz McColgan and former international steeplechaser Peter McColgan, Eilish has forged her own legacy on the track and road. She is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist in the 10,000m (Birmingham 2022), holds British records in the 5,000m, 10,000m, 5km, and half marathon, and has proudly represented Team GB at three Olympic Games. Her recent performance at the Great North Run once again confirmed her status as one of the most consistent and determined athletes in the sport.

The evening was organised by local company, Adrenaline Sporting Events, as part of a continuing series of events bringing high-profile sporting figures to the Oswestry community.

Alan Lewis, Founder and Owner of Adrenaline Sporting Events, commented:
“It was a genuine honour to welcome Eilish to Oswestry. Her honesty, humour, and passion for sport made the evening truly inspiring.

“I’d like to extend special thanks to Matt Ward for presenting the evening, Oswestry School for hosting, Wenlock Spring Water and Arla for providing refreshments, and Vicky Bradbeer along with team members from Hope House Children’s Hospice for attending and sharing information about the incredible services they offer locally. It was wonderful to see so many friends, sponsors, and members of the community come together to enjoy the event.”

A raffle was held during the event to raise funds for Hope House Children’s Hospice, with Eilish drawing the winning tickets.

Following her talk and the raffle, Eilish took time to meet attendees and have photos taken —making it a truly memorable experience for all.