Laura Muir in 'best shape' ahead of Paris Olympics with rarely seen Stade De France record on her side

Laura Muir will line up in the Stade De France next month knowing no female has ever ran a 1500m faster than her in the colossal venue. In fact the Scots Olympic medal hopeful holds the outdoor record over the distance for the whole of France.

It’s a hugely impressive accolade dating back eight years to the 2016 Diamond League’s Meeting De Paris. And that 3min 55.22sec run will provide as comforting a memory as the 31-year-old could wish for as she goes for glory on the biggest stage of all next month. But Muir, who won silver in Tokyo in 2021, knows it will count for little when the starting gun sounds.

A field led by world record holder Faith Kipyegon - going for an unprecedented treble after winning gold in Rio and Tokyo - looks as strong as ever. And Muir is sure it’s going to have to take something pretty special if she’s to get back on the Olympic podium having grabbed a stunning silver three years ago.

Fittingly she’s back to compete in the Meeting De Paris on Sunday - across the city in the Charléty Stadium this time - for her last competitive outing ahead of the Olympics kicking off in just three weeks’ time. Kipyegon will also be there today, just as she was in that 2016 Diamond League meeting. And Muir said: “It’s a shame it’s not in the Stade De France but it’s in the same city. It’ll be nice to hopefully go and run well. It’ll be fast and it’ll be good to have a competitive race.

“I have ran in the Stade De France before and I may have the stadium record from 2016 when I won the Diamond League there shortly after Rio when I ran 3:55.22. It would be cool if that’s still the case… although I don’t know if it will be next month!

“It’s been a while since I’ve ran there. It’ll be nice to see it and I’m going to Paris a bit earlier before racing so I’ll probably go down to watch one of those sessions to see it a bit.”

Muir might not have been sure but Record Sport has checked the record still stands. Now it’s about trying to create more lasting memories in the French capital for the Dundee Hawkhill Harriers ace. It’s over a year since she split with long-term coach Andy Young and teamed up with Manchester-based Steve Vernon. And despite admitting she “did everything wrong” as she crossed the line in second place at last week’s British Championships to seal her spot in Paris, Muir is confident she’s never been in better shape at this stage of the season.

She said: “I’d say so, yeah. It’s hard to tell when the training is different and I don’t have that comparison point anymore. But certainly the stuff I’ve been doing I’ve been very happy with. I’ve been running 400 metres PBs in training which is very good.

“My speed is in a good spot and I’ve done a lot of work on my aerobic base so I’m a lot stronger so it’s looking good. I’m feeling really good and I’m in a really strong place so I’m really happy with how things are going.

“The next weeks are just about sharpening. We’ve done a lot of basework so I’m really fit. Now we do that extra level of race prep and speed work but my speed is the best it’s ever been. I’m really happy with it. I know it’s all there and it’s a bit frustrating when I didn’t show it (at the British Champs) but I know I didn’t race it tactically very well.”

A podium place is the target Muir knows is achievable. But she’ll never dismiss the prospect of taking top spot, no matter how strong the field. She said: “Based on world records it’s a little bit difficult - but in 1500 metres running anything can happen. Until you cross that finishing line you never know so I’m just going to go out there and do the best I can.”