Australian middle-distance runner Olli Hoare clarified that he did not witness a murder while training in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games, addressing circulating reports to the contrary. The 29-year-old, competing in the men’s mile heats at Scotstoun Stadium, said the incident he encountered did not involve a homicide and occurred several miles and hours apart from a recent fatal attack in the city.

Hoare and his teammate Ky Robinson were running along the river when they encountered a police intervention involving a dispute. Hoare described seeing individuals carrying knives but said they were not directly threatened and that police were managing the situation. “There was nothing heinous about what was happening,” Hoare said, emphasizing that they simply ran through the area and did not feel the need to report the incident at the time.

Initial reports had linked Hoare to the aftermath of the murder of Paul McMinigal in Glasgow’s east end on Friday, but Hoare dismissed this as a case of misinformation. “The murder that was reported was six miles away and also at a different time,” he stated. Jake Wightman, the Scottish 1500m runner and a close friend of Hoare staying in the same accommodation, also dismissed the claims, noting Hoare had only seen someone with a knife but was not involved in a murder scene.

During their runs, Hoare and Robinson were subjected to heckling from onlookers, including at least one individual brandishing a knife. As a precaution following the incident, the Australian team was advised not to wear their official kit in the city. Hoare explained that he chose not to wear the team uniform the following day to avoid drawing attention and also to preserve his race gear from sweat stains. He noted that the concerns were especially pertinent for female athletes on the team.

Despite the unsettling experience, Hoare maintained focus on his competition. After initially being disqualified from the men’s mile final, he was reinstated on appeal and will face a challenging field including Josh Kerr, Cam Myers, and Jake Wightman, all of whom performed strongly in their heats. Kerr, who won his heat in 3:58.57 using his specialized racing spikes, acknowledged the fierce competition and the intensity expected from the home crowd.

Hoare’s comments sought to set the record straight amid a week marked by misinformation while underscoring the reality of competing in a large urban environment with its unavoidable complexities. The athlete’s focus now turns fully to the upcoming final, where he aims to contend with some of the Commonwealth’s top middle-distance runners.