Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie split from coach after training camp row

Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie, two of Britain’s main athletics medal hopes at next year’s Paris Olympics, have split from their long-time coach Andy Young.

The two Scottish middle-distance runners suddenly left their warm-weather training camp in South Africa last week, casting major questions over their preparations for this year’s World Championships, and have now confirmed that they will no longer work with Young.

Muir, who won Olympic silver in Tokyo over 1,500 metres and is a seven-time European champion, has been trained by Young since 2011. Reekie, who was fourth in Tokyo at 800 metres and is a double European Under-23 champion, is a former house-mate of Muir and has been coached by Young over the past seven years.

Young had suggested earlier this week that there had been a disagreement after Muir and Reekie were seen back training in Loughborough but denied that it amounted to a “bust up”.

Muir and Reekie have not commented publicly but their search for a new coach, with only 15 months until the Paris Games, was confirmed in a statement by UK Athletics.

“UK Athletics (UKA) can confirm Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie have made the decision to part ways with their coach Andy Young,” said the statement.

“Both athletes would like to thank Andy for his commitment and support over the years. They are now focussed on making decisions around their support network and coaching set-up for the future and will not be making any further comment. UKA staff are continuing to support the athletes during this time.”

Young had suggested that Muir and Reekie had left due to concerns about his well being.

“I think you would find the girls were worried about my health if you spoke to them,” said Young. “Felt I wasn’t looking after myself properly, maybe thought pressure was getting to me. I’d say they were reading too much into it.”

The World Championships are the overriding priority this summer and Muir, who will turn 30 in May, is targeting a medal in Budapest as well as Zola Budd’s 38-year British mile record, and a new 5,000 metres personal best.

Muir has previously praised Young’s impact on her career, saying: “It was a lot of intensity and he showed me how to push myself. He knew how to progress through different phases and how much to push me and motivate me.”

Young has always believed that Muir's blend of speed and endurance – evidenced by her medal winning potential at distances ranging from 800m all the way to 5,000m – makes her an exceptionally rare talent. “I used to train with Paula Radcliffe when I was at Loughborough and she obviously had a huge engine but she didn’t have a turn of speed,” he said. “Kelly Holmes had that huge turn of speed but not the engine – Laura has both.”