Jake Wightman

Great Britain's Jake Wightman won gold in the 1500m at the World Athletics Championships on Tuesday night in Eugene, becoming the first Brit to do so since ...

The main thing is it made up for the Olympics. His dad, a stadium announcer, commentator and Jake’s coach, said: ‘I’ve been doing his school sports day since he was about 11 because my wife’s been his PE teacher. I thought “screw this, I’m going to give it a go”. If I ended up finishing fourth, I gave it a go. It was made all the more special as Wightman’s father and coach, Geoff, was commentating on his victory, as he said: ‘Running is coming home. ‘Dad can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes, some people say robot some say professional,’ Jake laughed. It will be interesting to watch it back.

A pre-race outsider in a stellar field, the 28-year-old delivered Team GB's first gold medal of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

“So we’ve just taken it to a slightly bigger stadia, slightly bigger crowds and slightly bigger medals.” Asked about his dad, he smiled: “He can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes – some people say robot, some say professional. Wightman stayed in close contact with the leaders as first Kipsang, who had not lost a race all season, and then the 2019 world champion, Cheruiyot, fell back after 700m. And on a day when the temperatures crept towards the 90s, the plan worked to perfection. Or British Athletics who had booked Wightman on a flight home on Wednesday – which meant his medal ceremony had to be brought forward nearly 24 hours to immediately after the race. Somehow Wightman Sr held back the tears after a moment that was surely unprecedented in broadcasting as well as elite sporting history.

The 28-year-old won Great Britain's first gold in Eugene on Tuesday night, which was announced at Hayward Field by his dad and coach Geoff.

So I can’t be biased, I have to be impartial.” The main thing is it made up for the Olympics. “The main thing of Tokyo was it was way more disappointing than people realise,” he said. “We had some good 200m semi-finals, you just get into a certain groove. He’s putting in a lot of hard work. I thought ‘screw this, I’m going to give it a go’. If I ended up finishing fourth, I gave it a go. “Dad can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes, some people say robot some say professional,” he smiled. We made those changes to come into these champs in a much better position.” “I’ve been doing his school sports day since he was about 11 because my wife’s been his PE teacher,” said Wightman senior. The main thing is to now thank everyone who has helped me.” World Athletics then moved the medal ceremony forward to Tuesday evening because the original one clashed with his flight home on Wednesday. It’s important to hit the milestone like this, seven, eight-year-old me would never have believed.

The 28-year-old produced a stunning run to take gold at the World Championships in Oregon.

The 28-year-old won Great Britain's first gold in Eugene on Tuesday night, which was announced at Hayward Field by his dad and coach Geoff.

So I can’t be biased, I have to be impartial.” The main thing is it made up for the Olympics. “The main thing of Tokyo was it was way more disappointing than people realise,” he said. “We had some good 200m semi-finals, you just get into a certain groove. He’s putting in a lot of hard work. I thought ‘screw this, I’m going to give it a go’. If I ended up finishing fourth, I gave it a go. “Dad can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes, some people say robot some say professional,” he smiled. We made those changes to come into these champs in a much better position.” “I’ve been doing his school sports day since he was about 11 because my wife’s been his PE teacher,” said Wightman senior. The main thing is to now thank everyone who has helped me.” World Athletics then moved the medal ceremony forward to Tuesday evening because the original one clashed with his flight home on Wednesday. It’s important to hit the milestone like this, seven, eight-year-old me would never have believed.

The Nottingham-born Scot stunned a star-studded field by overhauling Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the final 200m to become Britain's first 1500m ...

It will be days, maybe months, until I actually feel this is what’s happened." "You always have to believe you can do this and I did. “Running, it’s coming home.”

Photo by James Rhodes Results Jake Wightman struck gold at Hayward Field to win the Men's 1500m final in stunning fashion in 3:29.23. The Scot surged.

Jakob is so good that I knew at some point he was going to come past so I gave it a go and the closer I got to the line the more likely I felt that wasn’t going to happen.’ ‘It was world record pace for the first 400m and you’ve got to settle in and make good decisions. ‘What’s the point starting a race and not putting yourself in a position not to win it? I don’t think people realise how crushing it was to go in with such high expectations and come away hoping for a medal but end up tenth. ‘I got a whiff of it on the last lap. I had such a disappointing year in Tokyo last year.

Jake Wightman hopes to build on his stunning 1500m world championship gold medal by adding the Commonwealth title and the European 800m crown during the ...

“I’ve been watching his races for all his life, since he started as a little kid in primary school and to come through and win a global title here of all places. He also underlined the need to be unbiased when announcing the runners and calling the race. For them to be as pumped as they were – to be able to give the medal to me and Crammy sent me a nice message – it means a lot because they’re the benchmark of British distance running and heroes of mine, so that makes it extra special.” Father and coach Geoff announced the drama as it unfolded in Oregon with his mother Susan in the crowd. The Commonwealth Games starts in Birmingham next week and Wightman, who has won European and Commonwealth bronze but only came 10th at last year’s Olympics in Tokyo, confirmed he will be there before hopefully a tilt at the Europeans in August. “I’m 28 now,” he said. So it’s just another name, but I just didn’t want to mess it up for him by doing anything wobbly.”

British - and now world - champion 1500m runner Wightman is shouted home by his father and coach Geoff, who was also providing PA commentary in the stadium ...

“When the break happened, he covered it. “It’s Wightman against Ingebrigtsen for the world title. “Whatever happens in the rest of my career, I’m a world champion.

Headset on and heart beating out of his chest, Hayward Field commentator Geoff Wightman knew he had a job to do, but composure was in short supply.

“I knew the odds were getting more into my favour the later in the race it went,” said Jake. “I felt strong, but Jakob is a beast and I didn’t know if he was going to come past. Asked if it was the best moment of his life, Geoff replied: “Well, the birth of him and his brother and sister, and my wedding day, I would have to put them first. “We knew that we had to run this very well, so I was really happy to get second. He even had time for a cheeky dig at Geoff’s commentary technique, adding: “He can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes. Jake’s time of 3 minutes 29.23 seconds was both a personal best and the second-fastest winning time in World Championships history. “I’m not a negative person, but I felt pretty scarred by it. “I’ve been doing his school sports day since he was about 11 because my wife’s been his PE teacher. “Whatever happens in the rest of my career, I’m a world champion. Headset on and heart beating out of his chest, Hayward Field commentator Geoff Wightman knew he had a job to do, but composure was in short supply. But it will take something extraordinary for there to be a bigger shock victory this week than the one he achieved on Tuesday night. “That’s my son, I coach him and he’s the world champion.” And yet when Jake bullishly chose to pass Ingebrigtsen with 200m remaining, the Norwegian had no response.

Jake Wightman's stunning gold medal win at the World Championships has capped the perfect homecoming party for his athletics club in Edinburgh. The Scot produced the performance of his life to beat Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen to the line in the ...

I think that’s why our community feels such a connection today and shares the moment.” “I don’t see him a lot but I am in touch with him regularly. I was always the team manager!” It was great to see them both there. “We have been out of Meadowbank for four and a half years. Wightman was born in Nottingham but his family moved to Scotland when he was 10.

Get all of the latest Other Sport news from NationalWorld. Providing fresh perspective online for news across the UK.

Wightman Sr competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and has described his son as ‘meticulous’. He’s putting in a lot of hard work” My dad has coached me since I was 14 or 15. Wightman has previously won the European and Commonwealth bronze but only came 10th at last year’s Tokyo Olympics. Every club coach from Edinburgh, Loughborough Uni, British Athletics have all played part.” “You only get one shot in four years.

Jake Wightman became a shock world champion after winning the 1500m in Eugene on Tuesday. The 28-year-old stunned Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and, ...

He came seventh at the European Championships in 2016 while he was also fourth in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games four years ago. His aunt, Angela Tooby-Smith also ran in the 10,000m. Mum Susan represented Team GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, coming 12th in the marathon.

Born in Nottingham, Wightman is a product of Edinburgh Athletic Club and is now based in Arizona. His dad and coach Geoff was chief executive at Scottish ...

He came seventh at the European Championships in 2016 while he was also fourth in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games four years ago. He only came 10th at last year's Olympics and was fifth at the World Championships in Doha three years ago. His aunt, Angela Tooby-Smith also ran in the 10,000m.

Jake Wightman became a shock world champion after winning the 1500m in Eugene on Tuesday. The 28-year-old stunned Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen and, ...

He came seventh at the European Championships in 2016 while he was also fourth in the 800m at the Commonwealth Games four years ago. His aunt, Angela Tooby-Smith also ran in the 10,000m. Mum Susan represented Team GB at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, coming 12th in the marathon.

In a quick race commentated on inside the stadium by his father and coach Geoff, the pace slowed marginally on the penultimate lap. Olympic champion Jakob ...

And Asher-Smith, who had agonisingly finished the 100m in fourth place, said: “I am really happy with that. I’m happy that I’ve got a day’s break so I can rest, recuperate, focus and get ready to go again, just a bit faster.” “The closer I got to the line the more likely I felt like that was going to happen. “It was world record pace for the first 400m. That was the run of his life. I was running for my life in the home straight.

Get all of the latest Other Sport news from The Scotsman. Providing fresh perspective online for news across the UK.

“Dad can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes, some people say robot some say professional,” he said. The main thing is to now thank everyone who has helped me.” “I knew the odds were getting more into my favour the later in the race it went,” Wightman said. It’s important to hit the milestone like this, seven, eight-year-old me would never have believed. Wightman’s gold was Britain’s second medal after Scotland's Laura Muir won bronze in the women's 1500m. “My voice has gone.

He's been commentating on his son's races since school sports day so when Jake Wightman landed gold at the World Championships in Oregon there was no ...

“Dad can be a bit of a robot on the mic sometimes, some people say robot some say professional,” he smiled. The main thing is to now thank everyone who has helped me.” It’s important to hit the milestone like this, seven, eight-year-old me would never have believed. The main thing is it made up for the Olympics. He’s putting in a lot of hard work. “I’ve been doing his school sports day since he was about 11 because my wife’s been his PE teacher,” said Wightman senior.