Athletics
JemmaReekie
Jemma Reekie is a British middle-distance runner from Ayrshire. She competes mainly over 800 metres and has represented Great Britain at two Olympic Games.
Reekie at a glance
Junior titles established her range
Reekie won European under-23 titles over both 800m and 1500m in 2019. The double showed that she could combine the speed needed for two laps with the endurance required in a longer tactical race.
In February 2020 she ran 1:57.91 indoors in Glasgow, setting a British indoor record at the time. A week later she added national indoor marks for the mile and the 1500m split.
| Sport | Athletics |
|---|---|
| Events | 800m and 1500m |
| Date of birth | 6 March 1998 |
| Hometown | Beith, Ayrshire |
| Olympic best | Fourth in the Tokyo 800m final |
The Olympic final came within one place of a medal
At the delayed Tokyo Games, Reekie finished fourth in the 800m final and recorded a personal best of 1:56.90. The result confirmed that she could compete in a championship race rather than only in fast paced meetings.
She returned to the Olympics in Paris in 2024 and reached the semi-final. Earlier that year she won silver at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow.
Race position matters as much as raw speed
The 800m gives runners little time to correct a poor position. Reekie’s best races combine a controlled opening lap with enough space to change pace before the final bend.