Life @ EA

At only 16-years old, Edinburgh Academy pupil Rebecca Grieve has achieved a great deal as an U13 (under-13), U15 and now as a Senior athlete. Rebecca discusses her love of the sport, staying focussed and how hard work can really pay off.

You were selected to represent the full Senior Scotland Athletics Squad and run the 4 x 400m mixed relay at DNA Glasgow 2022 last Saturday. What was it like to compete at that level?
It was very different from what I am used to. I’ve been on a few international teams, but they were U20 age groups, and this group was for Senior Athletes (20+), so it was completely different. The atmosphere at the stadium (Emirates Arena, Glasgow) was amazing and it felt really good to be part of such an experienced team.

How did you get selected to compete?
I think it came down to my times. On my birthday I took part in an invitational race that included some elite athletes and I think they made their selections based on that as well.

Who were you competing against?
We (Scotland) were competing against England, Wales, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to compete against Laura Muir because she pulled out of the competition the day before.

How was this competition different from what you usually experience?
It was definitely a bigger crowd and there was a lot of media coverage. However, they weren’t allowed to cover anyone under the age of 18 – that was me and one other competitor. My coach said it was to protect us from feeling any added pressure.

How did you initially get into athletics?
I was quite fast in Primary School and my best friend in Primary 3 nominated me to run against the boys on Sports Day. I won and my PE teacher realised that I was good at sport, so my parents got me involved in an Athletics Club.

You obviously took to it, did you enjoy it from the beginning?
Yes, I had some natural ability and won quite a lot of races. I was then invited to attend another Athletic Club but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out. So, I ended up training myself from the age of 10–12 with help from a really good coach, Sed Remally, and he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever met.

Have you always had a love for this sport?
Yes! I’ve always loved running about in the playground, and since I started the sport, I really love competing in big races!

I hear you enjoy the training side of this sport. How do you keep focused?
I think I’m just quite an organised person and when I’m at School, I always look forward to going to training. On training days, I think, ‘Yeah, this is going to be fun!’ because I really enjoy it. It’s not a chore and if I have a particularly hard session, I get really excited about it, which some people may think is abnormal, ha!

How much do you train?
During a School week it is less, but over the holidays I train more. I train on track everyday with gym two days a week and Saturday is a rest day.

Is it difficult to juggle training and schoolwork?
I would say that it is quite hard, but you have to stay organised and time-manage really well. I find time to revise for exams and am highly motivated to push through it and have managed to get all A’s. My teachers are very supportive and know that I have outside commitments and help me if I am struggling.

Do you have a coach now or are you still doing this on your own?
I do have a coach, he’s really good, and I’ve been training with him since I was 13.

What motivates you to train and compete at this level?
It’s the joy I receive when I get a PB (personal best). That definitely motivates me, and I also like the challenge of trying to get qualifications and get selected…and I just love racing!

What do you consider your best performance or achievement to date?
The first time I represented Scotland in August of 2021. That was at the Manchester U20 International and, as an U17 athlete, I managed to win it with a 1.5 second PB. Two hours later, I ran in the 400m relay, and we beat the Scottish record by 5 seconds. That was definitely my best achievement.

I hear you’re considering heading to the USA for a full track and academic scholarship? Can you tell us a little about this?
I’ve signed a scholarship with the University of New Mexico and will start there next August. I always wanted to go to America, so I got involved with an agency and they got me a lot of offers. Now that I have an offer, everything is covered, and I am excited because the New Mexico climate is really good for sprint training and performance.

What are your aspirations within the sport?
First, I would like to make it to the U18 Championships, and from there I would like to participate in the Commonwealth Games, but the Olympic Games are the big dream!

Some of Rebecca’s achievements as an U17 athlete include: