View source for Liz McColgan

{{Short description|Scottish middle-distance athlete (born 1964)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Liz McColgan-Nuttall<br/><small>[[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]</small>
| image = 
| imagesize = 
| caption = 
| birth_name = Elizabeth Lynch
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|05|24}}
| birth_place = [[Dundee]], Scotland
| hometown = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| height = 1.70 m
| weight = 45 kg
| country = Great Britain<br />Scotland
| sport = [[Sport of athletics|Athletics]]
| event = [[10,000 metres]]<br/>[[Marathon]]<br/>[[3000 metres]]
| club = Dundee Hawks
| retired = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Sport|Women's athletics}}
{{Medal|Country|{{GBR2}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Seoul]]|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 10000 metres|10,000&nbsp;m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 Tokyo]]| [[1991 World Championships in Athletics - Women's 10000 metres|10,000&nbsp;m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1989 Budapest]]|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 3000 metres|3000&nbsp;m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1992 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|1992 Newcastle]]|Women's race}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1992 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|1992 Newcastle]]|Women's team}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Athletics at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{SCO}}}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]|10,000&nbsp;m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|10,000&nbsp;m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]|3000&nbsp;m}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[World Marathon Majors]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1991 New York City Marathon|1991 New York City]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[Tokyo Marathon|1992 Tokyo]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1996 London Marathon|1996 London]]|Marathon}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1987 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1987 Warsaw]]|Women's race}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1991 Amoriebieta]]|Women's race}}
}}

'''Elizabeth Nuttall''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (née '''Lynch''', formerly '''McColgan'''; born 24 May 1964) is a Scottish former [[Middle-distance running|middle-]] and [[Long-distance running|long-distance runner]]. She won the gold medal in the [[10,000 metres]] at the [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|1991 World Championships]] and a silver over the same distance at the [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Olympic Games]]. McColgan earned a silver in the [[3000 metres]] at the [[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1989 World Indoor Championships]]. She was a two-time gold medalist in the event at the [[Athletics at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]], [[1992 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|1992 World Half Marathon]] champion and a two-time individual medallist at the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]. She claimed three victories at the [[World Marathon Majors]]: at the 1991 [[New York City Marathon]], 1992 [[Tokyo Marathon]] and 1996 [[London Marathon]].

McColgan's 10,000 metres best of 30:57.07 set in 1991, moved her to second on the world all-time list at that time and stood as the [[List of Scottish records in athletics|Scottish record]] until 2022, when it was broken by her daughter [[Eilish McColgan]]. Her [[marathon]] best of 2:26:52 set in 1997, stood as the Scottish record until 2019.

==Early life==
Born Elizabeth Lynch,<ref name=sr>{{cite web |title=Liz McColgan profile at|work=Sports Reference Olympic Sports|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mc/liz-mccolgan-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417174613/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/mc/liz-mccolgan-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref> she grew up in the [[Whitfield, Dundee|Whitfield]] area of [[Dundee]]<ref name="herald">{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12172276.Injuries_force_Scotland_apos_s_most_successful_female_athlete__Liz_McColgan__into_retirement_Fracture_is_final_straw_for_track_queen/ |title=Injuries force Scotland's most successful female athlete, Liz McColgan, into retirement Fracture is final straw for track queen |work=[[The Herald (Scotland)|The Herald]] |date=11 August 2001 |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref> and was a pupil of [[St Saviour's RC High School]].

She joined her local athletics club, Hawkhill Harriers, aged 12 on the advice of her PE teacher Phil Kearns<ref name=runbritain>{{cite web |title=Liz McColgan interview |work=Run Britain |url=http://www.runbritain.com/articles/liz-mccolgan-interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425235402/http://www.runbritain.com/articles/liz-mccolgan-interview/ |archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=McColgan's long run from factory to fame |first=Geoffrey |last=Beattie |work=The Independent |date=16 December 1995 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/mccolgans-long-run-from-factory-to-fame-1526011.html |access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref> Coached by Harry Bennett, she soon discovered a talent for distance running and won her first UK titles aged 18.<ref name=runbritain/> Following Bennett's death, McColgan coached herself in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1986.<ref name = runbritain/> From 1987 to 1989 McColgan was coached by [[John Anderson (TV personality)|John Anderson]], including at the 1988 Olympics, after which she coached herself to the world 10,000m title and to wins in the London, New York and Tokyo marathons. She then met [[Grete Waitz]], who coached her from 1992 to her retirement in 1996.<ref name = runbritain/>

==Athletics career==
===Collegiate===
McColgan first attended [[Ricks College]], where she competed in track and won an [[NJCAA]] national cross country title.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wildcats Dominate Track Competition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-wildcats-dominate/183570622/ |work=[[The Salt Lake Tribune]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=63 |date=3 Apr 1983}}</ref> She missed the 1984-1985 season due to academic ineligibility and then transferred to the [[University of Alabama]] to run in the [[NCAA]] system.<ref name=mfp1 />

Running for the [[Alabama Crimson Tide track and field]] team, McColgan won the [[mile run]] at the [[1986 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships]] race in a time of 4:37.73, with [[Tina Krebs]] of [[Clemson University]] second. However, on the weekend of May 10-11, 1986, McColgan and two other Alabama athletes were reported to have accepted prize money against NCAA rules for placing at a [[10K run]] in [[Tupelo, Mississippi]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Three Tiders accepted money at track meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-three-tiders-accepte/183568428/ |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=31 |date=15 May 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Track From Page 1D |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-track-from-page-1d/183568634/ |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=38 |date=15 May 1986}}</ref> McColgan was initially cleared in that incident due to returning the prize check before it was cashed, but later that month an investigation found she had competed in other road races compromising her amateur status, and was disqualified from NCAA events as her mile championship title was vacated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bama track athletes get favorable ruling |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-bama-track-athletes/183568833/ |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=15 |date=16 May 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bama From Page 1B |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-bama-from-page-1b/183568895/ |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=18 |date=16 May 1986}}</ref> Her coach John Mitchell quit his job in the wake of the findings.<ref>{{cite web |title=UA track coach quits after investigation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-ua-track-coach-quits/183568970/ |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=49 |date=25 May 1986}}</ref><ref name=mfp1>{{cite web |title=Mitchell From Page 1B |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-mitchell-from-page-1/183569254/ |work=[[The Birmingham News]] |access-date=23 October 2025 |page=58 |date=25 May 1986}}</ref>

===Professional===
At the [[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Commonwealth Games]] in Edinburgh, as Liz Lynch, she took the gold medal in the [[10,000 metres]], finishing nearly 12 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor and giving the host country its only gold medal in athletics.<ref name=UKA>{{cite web|title=Liz McColgan biography|work=United Kingdom Athletics|url=http://www.uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/liz-mccolgan|access-date=22 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012175144/http://uka.org.uk/e-inspire/hall-of-fame-athletes/liz-mccolgan/|archive-date=12 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 1987, she won a silver medal at the [[1987 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]] in [[Warsaw]] representing Scotland (Great Britain would not send a unified team to the World Cross until 1988). She finished behind [[Annette Sergent]] of France but ahead of [[Ingrid Kristiansen]]. In September, she improved the UK 10,000m record to 31:19.82 while finishing fifth at the [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] in Rome, in a race won by Kristiansen.

In 1988, now competing as Liz McColgan, she improved her own UK record with 31:06.99 in July to defeat Kristiansen in Oslo. Almost three months later, she ran 31:08.44 to win an Olympic silver medal in the inaugural women's 10,000 metres at the [[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Seoul Olympics]]. She was defeated by the Soviet Union's [[Olga Bondarenko]]. McColgan won silver in the [[3,000 metres]] at the [[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]] in 1989. In January 1990, she became the only Scot to successfully defend a Commonwealth title at the [[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 games]] in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]], when she again took the gold in the 10,000 metres, as well as bronze in the 3,000 metres.<ref name=herald/> She missed the rest of the 1990 season due to pregnancy, giving birth to her daughter (future Olympic athlete) [[Eilish McColgan|Eilish]] in November. [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] dropped her the moment she told them she was pregnant.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Telegraph |date=16 October 2019|title=Liz McColgan-Nuttall exclusive - on being dropped by Nike while pregnant and wanting to protect daughter Eilish from online trolls |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2019/10/16/liz-mccolgan-nuttall-exclusive-dropped-nike-pregnant-wanting/ |first=Ben |last=Bloom |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

Just six weeks after her daughter Eilish was born, she contested an international 5&nbsp;km race in Florida and won a bronze medal at the [[1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|1991 World Cross Country Championships]]. In June 1991, she ran her lifetime best for the 10,000 m with 30:57.07 in Hengelo, becoming only the third woman to run under 31 minutes, moving to second on the world all-time list behind Kristiansen and narrowly ahead of Bondarenko. This stood as the Scottish record until it was broken by Eilish in 2022.<ref name="EilishRecord">[https://www.bbc.com/sport/athletics/61710527 Eilish McColgan beats Letesenbet Gidey - and mother Liz's time - as she sets Scottish 10,000m best], BBC, 6 June 2022</ref> In August 1991, she won gold in the 10,000 metres at the [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] in Tokyo, Japan.<ref>{{cite news |work=New York Times|date=31 August 1991|title=TRACK AND FIELD; Super Decathlon Effort Is Just About a Footnote|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/31/sports/track-and-field-super-decathlon-effort-is-just-about-a-footnote.html |first=Michael |last=Janofsky |access-date=23 November 2011}}</ref> In November of that year at the [[New York City Marathon]], her first [[marathon]], she won with a time of 2:27.23, breaking the record for a debut marathon by three minutes.<ref>{{cite news |work=New York Times|date=4 November 1991|title=NEW YORK CITY MARATHON; A Brash McColgan Wins With Bold Debut |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/04/sports/new-york-city-marathon-a-brash-mccolgan-wins-with-bold-debut.html |first=Robert |last=McG. Thomas Jr. |access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

In March 1992, McColgan struggled to a 41st-place finish at the [[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]] in Boston. Then, in the summer, she finished fifth in the 10,000m final at the [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona Olympics]]. In September, she won the inaugural [[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]], where she also helped the British team claim the silver medal in the team competition. Two months later, she won the [[Tokyo International Women's Marathon]].

After more than two years struggling with injuries, McColgan finished fifth in the 1995 London Marathon and sixth in the 10,000m final at the [[1995 World Championships in Athletics|1995 World Championships]] in Gothenburg. In 1996, she won the [[London Marathon]] in a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes and 54 seconds, before finishing 16th in the marathon at the [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta Olympics]]. She finished second in the London Marathons of 1997 and 1998, running her career-best time of 2:26:52 in 1997. She gave her medal to a youngster in the crowd after the 1997 event.<ref>{{cite news | work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] | date=14 April 1997 | title=SILVER MEDAL AND A HEART OF GOLD!; MALL FOR NOTHING: Scot McColgan loses marathon crown | url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SILVER+MEDAL+AND+A+HEART+OF+GOLD!%3b+MALL+FOR+NOTHING%3a+Scot+McColgan...-a061020226 | access-date=21 June 2019}}</ref>

McColgan retired from competing in August 2001 when she fractured a bone in her foot while training for selection for the [[Athletics at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Commonwealth Games]].<ref name="Scotsman 21Jul2011">{{cite news|title=Interview: Liz McColgan, athletics coach and former athlete |work=The Scotsman |date=21 July 2011 |access-date=24 November 2011 |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/interview_liz_mccolgan_athletics_coach_and_former_athlete_1_1755715}}</ref> However, she returned in 2004 to win the Scottish Indoor Championships 3000 metres (in 9:31). In 2007, she ran the London Marathon, finishing 25th in 2:50:38. She also completed the 2010 New York Marathon in 3:10:54. In 2017, she completed the inaugural [[Stirling Scottish Marathon]] in 3:18:32.

==Personal life==
In 1987 she married Northern Irish athlete [[Peter McColgan]]; they had five children together - [[Eilish McColgan|Eilish]], Martin, Eamonn, Kieran and Orla. The couple separated in November 2010 and finalised their divorce in March 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liz McColgan and husband Peter to divorce |work=The Courier |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=22 November 2011 |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/7882/liz-mccolgan-and-husband-peter-to-divorce.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203003152/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/7882/liz-mccolgan-and-husband-peter-to-divorce.html |archive-date=3 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Liz McColgan settles divorce with husband Peter|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/liz-mccolgan-settles-divorce-with-husband-peter-1-2830164|access-date=24 August 2015|date=11 March 2013|work=The Scotsman}}</ref> On 18 January 2014, McColgan married [[John Nuttall (athlete)|John Nuttall]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Athletics star Liz McColgan reveals her new-found happiness as she marries for the second time|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/athletics-star-liz-mccolgan-reveals-3037925|access-date=20 January 2014|newspaper=Scottish Daily Record|date=19 January 2014}}</ref> (1967&ndash;2023), a coach who worked as head of endurance coaching for [[British Athletics]] and later coached in [[Qatar]], becoming step-mother to Nuttall's son, para-athlete [[Luke Nuttall]] and daughter, British international athlete [[Hannah Nuttall]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-27|title=Hannah Nuttall|url=https://golobos.com/roster/hannah-nuttall/|access-date=2022-07-17|website=University of New Mexico Lobos athletics|language=en-US}}</ref>

McColgan's eldest daughter, Eilish, is also a distance runner. Eilish broke her mother's Scottish 10,000 metre record in 2022,<ref name="EilishRecord" /> and emulated her mother by winning the [[Athletics at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Women's 10,000 metres|10,000 metres at the 2022 Commonwealth Games]].

==Awards==
In December 1991, McColgan appeared on ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]''{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} and was voted [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/sports-personality/24712337 |title=Sports Personality: Liz McColgan wins in 1991 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 November 2013}}</ref> She was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|Member of the Order of the British Empire]] for services to athletics in [[1992 New Year Honours|1992]]<ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |issue=52767 |date=30 December 1991 |pages=15   |supp=y}}</ref> and inducted to the [[Scottish Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2004.<ref name="SSHF">{{cite web |title=Liz McColgan, MBE |work=Scottish Sports Hall of Fame |url=http://www.sshf.co.uk/inductees/l-p/liz-mccolgan-mbe/ |access-date=1 January 2015}}</ref>

==Achievements==
===International competitions===
{|{{AchievementTable|Event=yes}}
|-
!colspan=6|Representing {{SCO}}
|-
|1982
|[[1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Rome]], Italy
|71st
|4.7 km
|[[1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|16:03]]
|-
|1986
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]] 
|[[Edinburgh]], Scotland
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|10,000 m
|[[Athletics at the 1986 Commonwealth Games#Women|31:41.42]]
|-
|1987
|[[1987 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Warsaw]], Poland
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|5.1&nbsp;km
|[[1987 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|16:48]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1990
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Auckland]], New Zealand
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|10,000 m
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games#Women|32:23.56]]
|-
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|3000 m
|[[Athletics at the 1990 Commonwealth Games – Women's 3000 metres|8:47.66]]
|-
!colspan=6|Representing {{GBR2}}
|-
|rowspan=2|1986
|rowspan=2|[[1986 European Athletics Championships|European Championships]] 
|rowspan=2|[[Stuttgart]], West Germany
|12th
|3000 m
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships - Women's 3000 metres|9:02.42]]
|-
|7th
|10,000 m
|[[1986 European Athletics Championships – Women's 10,000 metres|31:49.46]]
|-
|1987
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] 
|[[Rome]], Italy
|5th
|10,000 m
|[[1987 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres|31:19.82]]
|-
|1988
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|10,000 m
|[[Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Women's 10,000 metres|31:08.44]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1989
|rowspan=2|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Budapest]], Hungary
|6th
|1500 m
|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 1500 metres|4:10.16]]
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|3000 m
|[[1989 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 3000 metres|8:34.80]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1991
|[[1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Antwerp]], Belgium
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|6.4 km
|[[1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|20:28]]
|-
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]] 
|[[Tokyo]], Japan
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|10,000 m
|[[1991 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres|31:14.31]]
|-
|rowspan=3|1992
|[[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Boston|Boston, MA]], United States
|41st
|6.4 km
| [[1992 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|22:21]]
|-
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|[[Barcelona]], Spain
|5th
|10,000 m
|[[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics - Women's 10,000 metres|31:26.11]]
|-
|[[IAAF World Half Marathon Championships|World Half Marathon Championships]] 
|[[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Half marathon
|[[1992 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships#Women's|1:08:53]]
|-
|1993
|[[1993 IAAF World Cross Country Championships|World Cross Country Championships]]
|[[Amorebieta]], Spain
|5th
|6.4 km
|[[1993 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race|20:17]]
|-
|1995
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Gothenburg]], Sweden
|6th
|10,000 m
|[[1995 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 10,000 metres|31:40.14]]
|-
|1996
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] 
|[[Atlanta|Atlanta, GA]], United States
|16th
|Marathon
|[[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon|2:34:30]]
|-
!colspan=6|[[World Marathon Majors]]
|-
|1991
|[[New York City Marathon]] 
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:27:32
|-
|1992
|[[Tokyo International Women's Marathon|Tokyo Marathon]]
|[[Tokyo]], Japan
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|2:27:38
|-
|1993
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|Marathon
|[[1993 London Marathon#Women|2:29:37]]
|-
|rowspan=2|1995
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|5th
|Marathon
|[[1995 London Marathon#Women|2:31:14]]
|-
|[[Tokyo International Women's Marathon|Tokyo Marathon]]
|[[Tokyo]], Japan
|7th
|Marathon
|2:30:32
|-
|1996
|[[London Marathon]] 
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Marathon
|[[1996 London Marathon#Women|2:27:54]]
|-
|1997
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Marathon
|[[1997 London Marathon#Women|2:26:52]]
|-
|1998
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|Marathon
|[[1998 London Marathon#Women|2:26:54]]
|-
|2007
|[[London Marathon]]
|[[London]], United Kingdom
|25th
|Marathon
|[http://www.marathonguide.com/results/browse.cfm?RL=1&MIDD=16070422&Gen=F&Begin=1&End=100&Max=10852 2:50:38]
|-
|2010
|[[New York City Marathon]]
|[[New York City|New York, NY]], United States
|129th
|Marathon
|3:10:54
|-
!colspan=6|Other marathons
|-
|2017
|[[Stirling Scottish Marathon]]
|[[Stirling]], United Kingdom
|16th
|Marathon
|3:18:32
|}

===Personal bests===
* [[1500 metres]] – 4:01.38 ([[Oslo]] 1987)
* [[Mile run|One mile]] – 4:26.11 [[London]] (1987)
* [[3000 metres]] – 8:38.23 ([[Nice]] 1991)
* [[5000 metres]] – 14:59.56 ([[Hechtel-Eksel]] 1995)
* [[10,000 metres]] – 30:57.07 ([[Hengelo]] 1991)
;Road
* [[5K run|5 kilometres]] – 15:11 ([[Carlsbad, California|Carlsbad, CA]] 1991)
* [[10K run|10 kilometres]] – 30:38 ([[Orlando, Florida|Orlando, FL]] 1989)
* [[10-mile run|10 miles]] – 52:00 ([[Portsmouth]] 1997)
* [[Half marathon]] – 1:08:42 ([[Dundee]] 1992)
* [[Marathon]] – 2:26:52 ([[London]] 1997)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sports links|maxlink=8|properties=-P4548}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box|title=[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year]]|before={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Paul Gascoigne]] |after={{flagicon|ENG}} [[Nigel Mansell]]|years=1991}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|before={{flagicon|NOR}} [[Ingrid Kristiansen]]|title=[[5000 metres#Women's seasons best (outdoor track)|Women's 5,000 m Best Year Performance]]|years=1987–1988|after={{flagicon|GDR}} [[Kathrin Weßel]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Zevenheuvelenloop|Zevenheuvelenloop Women's Winner (15 km)]]|before={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Tegla Loroupe]]|after={{flagicon|KEN}} [[Hellen Kimaiyo]]|years=1994}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer WBYP 5000m Women}}
{{Footer WBYP 10000m Women}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{Footer World Champions 10000 m Women}}
{{Footer World Athletics Champions Great Britain Women}}
{{Footer World Half Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer Commonwealth Champions 10000m Women}}
{{Footer UK NC 3000 Metres Women}}
{{Footer UK NC 5000 Metres Women}}
{{Footer UK NC 10000 Metres Women}}
{{Footer London Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer New York Marathon Champions Women}}
{{Footer Tokyo International Marathon Champions Women}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McColgan, Liz}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dundee]]
[[Category:Scottish women marathon runners]]
[[Category:British women marathon runners]]
[[Category:Scottish women long-distance runners]]
[[Category:British women long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Scottish Olympic competitors]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Scotland]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for Scotland]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 1990 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Great Britain]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Half Marathon Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships medalists]]
[[Category:New York City Marathon women winners]]
[[Category:London Marathon women winners]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality of the Year winners]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at St Saviour's Roman Catholic High School]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races Best Marathon Runner Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportswomen]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists in athletics]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Ricks Vikings women's track and field athletes]]