Three decades on from his global glory moment at the 1993 World Indoors, Tom McKean is finding further contentment in his athletics – by giving back to track.
The Olympian and fondly remembered Scottish 800m runner is taking the first steps on his coaching journey after a long career in the police.
Tom has returned to his roots at Motherwell AC, teaming up with fellow coaches like Ewen Cameron, with the Lanarkshire club on a parallel development path.
And now the story of his move towards helping inspire others, and the club’s holistic approach to coaching individual athletes and developing athletics overall is being told in a special short documentary commissioned by Scottish Athletics.
Urbane Media videographer and Aberdeen-based story-teller, Calum McCready, has already shone a light on Zoey Clark, wheelchair racer Joanna Robertson and Harvard-based Scottish thrower, Angela McAuslan-Kelly.
Now the latest documentary entitled ‘Giving Back to Track – Tom McKean (Motherwell AC)’ examines a wider story based around the joy of coaching and an ambitious and progressive approach to club development by Motherwell AC.
Starting in the 1980s, Tom had an impressive career at elite level which saw him joust with British greats Seb Coe and Steve Cram and included that World Indoors gold in Canada in 1993.
In recent years, after retiring from Police Scotland, he felt ready to give something back . . .
"I retired 18 months ago and I was running with my wife at Motherwell AC and they said ‘Well, why don't you start coaching again? We'd love to have you at Motherwell AC'," smiled Tom.
"The partnership quickly evolved and very quickly they got me hooked and they wouldn't let me go.
"Being a coach, I'm trying to create dreams, ambitions and goals for young people. To set them on their way in life.
"Life is tough for kids and they need to deal with joy, disappointment, underachieving, over-achieving. And I think, we give them that in a safe environment.
"We give them sessions and whether they win or fail, we always find a positive with it. And, hopefully, the kids they take it with them to the outside world.
"I can see that the more I put in, the more they’re giving me back.
"If I can get their dreams and aspirations and give them some motivation to succeed on their own and the will to be a better person then I feel I've done a good job. It's not just about winning and losing, it is about instilling values into these young people they can take with them every day of their life.
"And if I can still have these people making any sport - not just running - a lifestyle choice, then I'm creating a healthier environment for them. Maybe some of them can be the person that brings on the next generation of people. So we are trying to create a legacy that hopefully this club will carry forward for the future.
"At the end of the day, if one person does well, they all seem to enjoy it. We all enjoy it. And if somebody has a bit of heartache, we're there to support them."
Fellow coach Ewen Cameron, a well-known figure across athletics in Scotland who worked for Scottish Athletics previously and is now with sportscotland, echoed Tom’s ethos.
He underlined the Motherwell AC approach as seeking to coach athletes as people and to focus on the overall development of the individual.
"I’ve been involved in athletics for 40 years with a lifelong love of the sport," said Ewen.
"You get into it, you find a love for it, you find a passion for our sport.
"I think as a coach you want to help people. You want to give something back. Each coach in the club brings something different to the table as well.
"We've this guy who won a World Indoors gold medal and he's been to the Olympics. Tom he brings so much knowledge and experience and we joke about it, but we learn so much from that.
"There are other coaches who bring a different perspective; they all bring different experience. And I think we all try to impart some knowledge just to try and help people.
"I’m really proud to be part of the club. It's an honour to be a volunteer as a coach.
"I think, for me, Motherwell Athletics Club is like a family. You meet some amazing people. I've friends here that I’ve met through the club who will be friends for life.
"As coaches, sometimes we have to redefine what winning is.
"It's not just about medals. Now, the beauty of our sport is you can win without being on the podium.
"I think everybody that steps out there puts themselves on the line for cross country, or steps onto the track, can go on and achieve great things.
"When I see a child getting a Personal Best, I'm so proud for them and I'm so delighted for them. We all give up our time and I think it's a huge privilege and it's not one that I think you can take lightly."
Tom’s career also included European title wins at 800m both indoors and outdoors in the 1980s.
In the film, the 61-year-old draws on his own career to explain why giving your best is what should matter in athletics.
"My advice is: if you give 100 percent then you can walk off a track, or walk off a cross country race, or walk off a training session and say ‘I've done the best I can’,’ he said.
"Then, to me, you can't ask for any more.
"Once I ran in the final of the European Championships and I finished second. But I couldn't have done anything better.
"I couldn't have run any quicker, I couldn’t have been in better positions. I finished second because Seb Coe beat me on the line. But I had given 100 percent and should have been happy with he result – and I was happy with the result."
