Neil Gourley hopes it will be his “turn to stand on top of the podium” as he aims to become the 1500m champion at the World Championships in Tokyo this September. He wants to follow in the footsteps of fellow Scottish runners Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman, who both won gold in the event.
Gourley recently won his first global medal in the 1500m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing. He found inspiration in his own speech to the British team, where he encouraged athletes to “leave room for the extraordinary.”
After narrowly missing out on gold to Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Gourley is determined to achieve victory in Tokyo, just as his Scottish teammates did when they defeated the Norwegian star.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said, “It feels like my turn, doesn’t it? That’s definitely my goal. The competition is really tough right now, but I’m heading to Tokyo with the ambition of winning. It won’t be easy, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
Gourley is embracing his ambition after the disappointment of missing out on the European and World Indoor Championships, both recently held in Glasgow. The experience was tough, but overcoming it has helped him achieve his dream of winning a middle-distance medal on the global stage.
“A year ago, I wasn’t in a good place mentally or physically,” Gourley admitted. “Watching the World Indoors in Glasgow was difficult because competing in my home city would have been special.”
He had imagined racing in front of his family and friends, and the thought stayed with him during the final in Nanjing. However, he believes setbacks can make athletes mentally stronger.
“This experience gave me a new appreciation for the sport, for staying healthy, and for enjoying it,” he said. “Although it was tough at the time, it helped me build mental strength, which I was able to use this weekend.”
Be Open to Extraordinary Moments
Gourley showed great mental strength when he stood in front of his fellow athletes in Nanjing and gave an inspiring speech as the British team captain.
When asked what he told his teammates, he said: “Leave room for something extraordinary to happen. Don’t just aim to do what you’ve done all season. Believe that more is possible, take chances, and have ambition.”
His ambition is already bringing results—he has a world silver medal and now has his sights set on winning gold.
Despite his recent success, Gourley remains grounded. Before arriving in Glasgow, he apologized for being a bit late—he had just completed an unexpected UK anti-doping test. A small but clear sign that his career is reaching new heights.
