Yeargin goes from considering quitting to double Olympic relay bronze

Not so long ago, Nicole Yeargin’s coach told her “no-one cares” about relay medals. And not so long ago, she was considering giving up athletics entirely.

But now the United States-born Scot will leave Paris with two Olympic bronze medals to complete her set after previous world, European and Commonwealth Games success in the 4x400m relays.

Yeargin claimed her first after running in the heats of the mixed 4x400m relay earlier in the Games but played a much more significant role in the women’s equivalent at the Stade de France.

Running the second leg, she took the baton in fourth and looked like she was losing ground on the back straight before her ferocious finish catapulted the GB quartet into the medal places.

Amber Anning then streaked around the final lap to seal the deal.

“Two-time Olympian and two-time medallist… that’s pretty crazy,” Yeargin told BBC Sport Scotland.

“The first medal was like, ‘yeah, I got it’. But to run the final and do my team proud puts the cherry on top.”

Yeargin – who turns 27 on Sunday – endured a disappointing indoor season, with a poor showing at the British Championships followed by missing out on the World Indoors in Glasgow.

At that stage, she considered quitting entirely before refinding her focus in time to earn a place in the GB Olympic team.

“I was ready to hang up my spikes,” said Yeargin, whose mum is from Dunfermline. “But once you tune back in and give it your all, it’s amazing what can happen.

“I’m so emotional thinking about it because I thought I didn’t have it anymore, and so now to be a two-time Olympic medallist…

“There’s more still in the tank and I cannot wait for the years to come. I’m in there for another four years for sure and it’s now all about LA.”