OLYMPIC athlete Eilish McColgan has received a massive boost to her preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in the shape of a new Nissan Juke.
The Dundee-based middle distance runner, who represented Team GB in the 3,000m steeplechase at the London 2012 Games, had been without a car for two-and-a-half years, when her own broke down.
Since then, she has been relying on public transport to fulfill her punishing schedule of training sessions, physio appointments and competitions across the country.
Now though, she has been supplied with a brand new Nissan Juke by Arbroath Nissan dealer Mackie Motors as part of Nissan’s role as the offfical automotive partner of Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
The move will free up much of Eilish’s time and remove any worries about transport, allowing her to focus exclusively on the build-up to this summer’s Games and her return to major competition following a lengthy absence through injury.
The 26-year-old said: “Having this car is going to make a difference for me.
“Having to get public transport to and from training has been a real hassle and adds on excess time when I could be in the gym or preparing in other ways.
‘It will give me so much more flexibility and will remove a lot of worry so I’m delighted.”
She added: “I’ve been really unfortunate with injuries and illness and it felt as though I had to go right back to the very start and work my way up again.
“Now I feel like 2016 is a real turning point for me and I’m doing everything I can to be fit, healthy, well prepared and on the start line in Rio.”
Greg Black, General Manager at Mackie Motors on Montrose Road, Arbroath, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to play a part in helping Eilish fulfill her dreams in Rio and hopefully the Juke will make her preparations that little bit easier.
“Eilish is a real local hero and everybody at the dealership will be cheering her on and hoping she comes home with the gold.”
The partnership between the dealership and Eilish was formed through Nissan’s role as the Official Automotive Partner of ParalympicsGB and Team GB on the road to the Rio 2016 Paralympic & Olympic Games. As part of this, Nissan has launched the #UniteAndExcite campaign which will provide fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to athletes’ stories and news of how Nissan’s innovative technology could improve performance. Fans can follow #UniteAndExcite at www.nissan.co.uk/uniteandexcite
For more information about the Nissan Juke or to book a test drive visit www.mackiemotors.com
