Chris O’Hare believes he would not have won European bronze medals indoors and outdoors had he remained in Scotland.
The 24-year-old 1500m runner moved to the United States for a sports science degree at University of Tulsa and is now based in Boston.
“Unfortunately, it goes back to the amount of money that is put into developmental sport,” said O’Hare.
“I wouldn’t be the athlete I am now had I not gone to America. I did all of my development outside of Scotland.”
O’Hare, who was born and brought up in West Linton, south of Edinburgh, said the facilities, level of coaching, plus nutrition, psychological and mechanical support, he received in the USA was vital.
“Meadowbank to West Linton is a 45-minute drive – an hour to an hour and 15 minutes in traffic – and to do that three or four times a week was a lot and was not ideal for recovery to sit for an hour in the car after you’ve just finishing training,” O’Hare told BBC Scotland.
