How much strength does it take to be an elite athlete? The grueling training, the relentless pursuit of perfection, or every ounce of energy dedicated to the sport. But what about the unseen battles? The ones fought online, where faceless critics tear athletes down not for their performances but for their appearances. Competing on the track has never been the hardest part for a four-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion. The proper test? Facing relentless trolling for her appearance! But she finally has had enough as she prepares for the London Marathon!
British long-distance runner Eilish McColgan has hit back on online trolls after facing body-shaming comments on social media. The 34-year-old, who is preparing for the London Marathon in April, shared a video of her training on Instagram, only to be met with comments questioning whether she had an eating disorder.
McColgan has often ignored such remarks. But this time, she addressed them head-on, posting a strong and emotional message on her Instagram post along with a reel having unwarranted comments. She wrote: “The downside to social media. Yesterday, I shared on my stories a few of the comments I had received on my recent training video. Over 50k people viewed it. Many were horrified and shocked by the comments. But this has become my normal.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Eilish McColgan has had to respond to such comments. Back in 2019, when similar remarks surfaced, she stated that she was ‘naturally small.’
She also expressed that she was not surprised young women feel pressured to undergo cosmetic surgery. Explaining further, “I don’t call it out all the time because I don’t care enough. I don’t know these people, and they have zero bearing on my life. But I do think it’s important to share, from time to time, to ensure that the younger athletes who follow me understand that these comments are not my reality.”
Earlier, Eilish McColgan’s mother, Liz McColgan, a three-time Olympian, also fiercely defended her daughter against online abuse. Calling out the “jealousy and abuse” aimed at Eilish, she urged, “Stop the jealousy and abuse of women athletes online by posting ridiculous and stupid comments.”
But Eilish McColgan isn’t the only one. The harsh social media spotlight hasn’t spared her fellow British athletes, either!
Eilish McColgan isn’t the only one
Britain’s only individual Olympic medalist at the European Indoors, Georgia Hunter Bell, is taking a stand. Moreover, the 1500m bronze medalist from last summer isn’t just chasing gold in Apeldoorn. But she’s fighting against the relentless unwarranted appearance comments that plague female athletes.
This week, distance runner Eilish McColgan laid bare the offensive messages she’s received, with trolls attacking her physique and making baseless accusations about eating disorders. Now, Hunter Bell has stepped forward, revealing she’s been subjected to the same toxic scrutiny.
“Definitely something that needs to stop,” she said to Guardian. “I have to grow a thick skin quickly, ever since last summer. The majority of people are supportive, but there is a really dark side of social media where people write things about you, about your body, about how you look, about what they think of you, your performance. It’s hard when they’re directed to you,” she added.
And it doesn’t end there. Direct messages, unsolicited opinions, relentless judgment—when does it stop? “It drains a lot of your energy. You only have so much, and when you’re trying to focus on winning races, it’s tough to respond to every comment and look at them,” she adds.
So, what’s the solution? Ignore it? Speak out? Fight back? For now, Hunter Bell chooses to keep running. But one thing’s clear: silence isn’t an option anymore.
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