Runner McColgan Speaks Out Against Cyberbullying Ahead of First Marathon
Rewritten Article:
Athletes like Eilish McColgan face a constant battle against online abuse, particularly body shaming. This issue has become a significant hurdle in their professional careers. Here are some insights on how athletes tackle such challenges and the broader context of online abuse in sports.
As a runner, McColgan faces a barrage of comments questioning her physical health. She skillfully navigates the negativity, noting, "I’ve become pretty numb to it." Some of her critics hide behind cryptic usernames, while others are brazenly visible, even being a teacher or a father with daughters. McColgan takes it upon herself to address these individuals, expressing her disappointment.
She emphasizes that her primary goal is to inspire young athletes, especially girls, by demonstrating that her success isn't rooted in self-starvation. She wants her fans to realize that the criticism levied isn't a truthful representation of her reality. Instead, it's the opposite.
Unfortunately, the London Marathon's official social media account has become an unpleasant space, leading to its inactivity since January. McColgan champions the idea of making social media accounts verifiable and tied to passports. Despite this, she plans to maintain a presence on social media, advocating for proper body care and a healthy lifestyle.
In her personal life, McColgan has been a source of encouragement for those who struggle with bullying due to their appearance. She recalls receiving messages from victims of school bullying, who find solace in her ongoing battle against online criticism.
As a reigning Commonwealth 10,000m champion for Scotland, McColgan aims to compete in the marathon at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. This will be her 26.2-mile debut, a challenge she admits makes her "absolutely bricking it." She has reached 21 miles in training but is unsure what lies ahead after 20 miles.
Despite the daunting prospect, McColgan is willing to embrace the unknown in pursuit of her target—beating her mother's personal best in the 1997 London Marathon.
© 2025 AFP
Data Enrichment:
- Dealing with online abuse is a pressing issue for professional athletes like McColgan. Strategies athletes employ to cope with such challenges include social media management, mental health support, and advocacy.
- Athletes manage their social media presence by limiting it or delegating account management to teams or managers.
- Blocking and reporting abusive users, as well as seeking professional counseling and support from friends and family, are crucial mechanisms for handling the emotional impact of online abuse.
- Advocacy efforts include public statements against online abuse and participation in campaigns promoting safer digital environments.
- Online abuse in sports is prevalent and often includes sexual, racist, homophobic, and misogynistic content. Women athletes, such as McColgan, face a disproportionate amount of online abuse, with 50% of it being either misogynistic or racist. During high-profile events, women’s athletes receive significantly more threats than their male counterparts.
- Organizations like FIFPRO and FIFA are instituting measures to protect athletes from online harassment, such as moderation services.
- Eilish McColgan, in the face of constant online abuse, including body shaming, galvanizes her determination to inspire young athletes, particularly girls, showing them that her success isn't tied to self-starvation but hard work.
- Despite the unpleasant experience of online abuse on social media platforms like the London Marathon's official account, McColgan advocates for making accounts verifiable and tied to passports to combat online negativity.
- In an effort to cope with the emotional impact of online abuse, McColgan emphasizes the importance of blocking and reporting abusive users, seeking professional counseling, and leaning on friends and family for support.
- Participating in advocacy efforts, McColgan makes public statements against online abuse and joins campaigns promoting safer digital environments for athletes.
- Online abuse in sports, characterized by sexual, racist, homophobic, and misogynistic content, disproportionately affects women athletes such as McColgan, who faces a significant amount of misogynistic or racist comments, especially during high-profile events.
