Laura Muir's coach hits out at New Years Honours List

Laura Muir’s coach has called for an overhaul of the New Years Honors List amid continued snubs for Britain’s top female track and field star.

Pointing to the examples of Dina Asher-Smith, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Muir, who have never featured on the list despite holding 15 Olympic and world medals between them, Andy Young described the existing system as ‘very structurally flawed’ ‘.

While it’s been a less than vintage year for British athletes beyond 1500m world champion Jake Wightman, it’s notable that Asher-Smith and Johnson-Thompson didn’t go unnoticed in 2019 when they won of world gold, and 1500m runner Muir is unrecognized despite Olympic silver, world bronze and six European titles in one of the most closely contested disciplines of a global sport.

Laura Muir won European gold last year, but still does not feature in the New Years Honors List

Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson won World Championship gold medals in 2019 but were also overlooked when it came to the New Years Honors List

Laura Muir’s coach Andy Young (left) can’t understand why Muir and her teammates keep getting courted.

Young said: ‘Still no MBEs for Laura Muir, Dina Asher-Smith or Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Perhaps now is the time to point out that there is something very structurally wrong with the system.

‘Clearly all three are more than deserving of such an honour, so why in January 2023 have none of these three amazing women received one?

‘I am not standing here telling you to consider those who have received such awards in previous years as undeserving, however if you look at the sporting recipients receiving awards over the past decade, you will see the countless sportsmen and women who have achieved less. than this amazing trio.

‘And that’s on a similar basis, not even considering that athletics is the most competitive of global sports for women, which makes what they’ve achieved all the more impressive. So why are they not given the same honor as their compatriots from other sports?’

Sol Campbell has also been critical of the New Years Honors List after being snubbed

Young added: ‘As well as their sporting achievements away from the track, they are truly inspirational, reaching the highest levels of academic excellence while consistently beating the world’s best on the track.

‘I’m sure most parents would struggle to think of many better role models today for their teenage daughter than someone who has consistently reached the very top of the sporting world, whilst qualifying as a veterinary surgeon (Muir ) or achieves the first. class degree in history at King’s College London (Asher-Smith).

‘So I think now is the time to ask what is wrong with the system.’

Young’s comments follow Sol Campbell’s scathing criticism of his omission from the list, with the former England defender, 48, laying out 10 reasons why he should be included.