Olympic athlete urges people to protect their skin from a young age

Liz McColgan, Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion, has never been one to talk about her health but has recently opened up to share her experience in the hope it will help others.

As a young athlete, Liz trained and raced in all weathers and admits sun protection was never something she gave much thought to. Not liking the feeling of creams on her skin – thinking they made her sweat more – she convinced herself she was better off without them.

Liz said: “Looking back, that was ignorance. I’ve had to undergo surgery to remove two lesions on my face. It was a stark reminder that the choices we make early on – especially the ones we dismiss as unimportant – can have lasting consequences.

“As athletes, we focus so much on performance – mileage, sessions, recovery, nutrition – but often overlook something as simple as protecting our skin. Yet it’s just as much a part of our overall health and wellbeing as any training session.

“Because looking after your body isn’t only about performance – it’s about longevity, health and taking care of yourself for the future. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.”

Liz is now appealing to people to take sun protection seriously from a young age and make it a lifelong routine. Regardless of whether you’re an athlete out training or racing, or just someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, protecting your skin matters.

If, like Liz, you are worried about any moles or lesions, please visit your GP. The checklist below is a handy guide to what to look out for.