Eilish McColgan has spoken out about the online abuse she regularly faces, calling for social media platforms to introduce mandatory passport-linked verification for users. She believes this could be a significant step toward tackling the wave of anonymous bullying, which she says often feels “faceless” and dehumanizing.
The elite runner, preparing for her debut in the London Marathon, has endured cruel comments about her body including accusations of looking like a “skeleton” and having anorexia. These remarks intensified recently when a video of her training was shared online by her mother. Despite this, McColgan remains determined to use her platform to advocate for herself and others.
“Having a verified account where someone has to link their passport would make a big difference,” she argued. “Right now, people hide behind anonymous profiles. They forget there’s a real person reading these comments, someone with family and friends who are hurt by what’s said.” She emphasized that while she has developed a level of numbness to the insults, her mother often finds them more difficult to ignore.
McColgan is particularly vocal because of her young followers, many of whom look up to her as a role model. “I don’t want them to think that being thin is the reason I break records,” she explained. “There’s this dangerous idea that skinny equals fast, and I want to challenge that.”
She also expressed shock at the number of trolls who don’t even try to hide their identities. “It’s bizarre when someone’s full name and photo are right there beside an abusive comment,” she said. One instance that stood out to her involved a woman who criticized her appearance despite being a schoolteacher, with a child visible in her profile picture. When McColgan messaged her to point out the contradiction, the woman quickly deleted her comment.
In another case, a man made an inappropriate, sexualized remark despite being a father of three daughters. McColgan replied, asking how he would feel if someone said the same thing to one of his children. She finds that confronting abusers directly can sometimes prompt them to reflect on their behavior, though more often than not, they simply disappear.
Despite the negativity, McColgan has no plans to leave social media. For her, it’s about not letting bullies control her experience. “Someone told me to just come off social media. But would you say the same thing to a kid who’s bullied at school to stop going to school?” she said. “Why should I stop doing what I enjoy because of someone irrelevant to me?”
She draws strength from the messages she receives from young people who are going through similar experiences. Some have told her that seeing her stand up to online abuse has helped them find the courage to speak up or feel more confident in their own skin. This impact fuels her decision to remain visible and vocal.
Through her non-profit organization, Giving Back to Track, McColgan supports young athletes and promotes positive body image. She hopes her message resonates with the next generation encouraging them to prioritize health and wellbeing over appearance, and to recognize that online critics do not define them.
Looking ahead to her marathon debut, she’s aiming to surpass her mother’s personal best. Though nervous about covering the full 26.2 miles for the first time, she’s equally excited. “It’s scary because I’ve never done the full distance in training,” she said. “But I know I’m not alone there’ll be thousands of us out there, all wondering the same thing. I just can’t wait to feel the buzz of the crowd.”
