Jemma Reekie on 60 Miles a Week at 5:50 Pace, Missing Olympic Bronze by 0.09, and How She Rebuilt From the Lowest Point of Her Career
About this episode
Jemma Reekie discusses her career highs and lows, training regimen, and mental health challenges in a candid conversation with Dominic Schlueter.
Jemma Reekie doesn't remember most of her records—she just ran and found out later. The Scottish 800m/1500m star joins Dominic fresh off a fifth-place finish in the stacked Birmingham 2026 Euro 800m final, and opens up about a career that's been defined by extremes: three British indoor records broken in eight days as a 21-year-old who didn't even know what the records were; a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics decided by 0.09 seconds; and a Paris 2024 Olympics that looked like her best shot at a medal on paper but ended without even a final—a result that triggered the lowest point of her career, including a battle with disordered eating and anxiety she didn't get help for until six months later. Jemma talks candidly about rebuilding under coach Jon Bigg after that low, why the mental side of the sport is harder for her than the physical, and how bringing in a breathing coach helped her find stability. She also breaks down her training in detail—60 miles a week, mostly doubles, a strong aversion to slow running, and a "no phone until training's done" rule that's changed her focus. Plus, her friendly rivalry with Keely Hodgkinson, the story behind her cinematic…
People in this episode
Host: Dominic Schlueter
Guest: Jemma Reekie
Topics covered
- middle distance running
- mental health in sports
- training techniques
- Olympic competition
- athlete resilience
- personal struggles
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Jemma Reekie Special
Places: Birmingham, Tokyo, Paris, LA
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