TO say Laura Muir has enjoyed a whirlwind week would be an understatement. The 23-year-old from Kinross-shire successfully defended her 1500m title at the British Championships in Birmingham last weekend to officially confirm her place in the Olympic team for Rio.

Having returned from the Team GB kitting out day on Monday with shiny new gear piled higher than a Crackerjack contestant, there were less than 24 hours to draw breath – never mind celebrate – before Muir was on a plane to Font Romeu in France for an altitude training camp.

Her voice drifts down the line from high in the Pyrenees, where Muir has spent the morning being put through her paces at 1,850m (6,079ft) above sea level. The adjective she aptly uses to sum up recent days is "surreal" as her Olympic preparations now begin in earnest.

"I haven't really had much time to celebrate," she admits. "I stayed in Birmingham on the Sunday night, it took all day Monday to be kitted out, flew back to Scotland and then the next day was off to France."

In 2012, Muir was so thrilled to even make the 1500m final at the Olympic trials that she didn't mind finishing at the back of the field. Four years on, she claimed a definitive victory over her peers at the Alexander Stadium.

"I feel proud because it shows that anything is possible," she says. "People shouldn't be disheartened if they're not doing well because there is always the opportunity to improve and turn things around. It shows what hard work and determination can do if you really want something."

Her delight is infectious as Muir – one of the Sunday Herald's Six To Follow to Rio 2016 – recalls the heady excitement of the Team GB kitting out day.

It included the goosebumps-inducing moment of standing in front of the mirror and gazing at her reflection dressed in the red, white and blue competition attire she will wear in Rio six weeks from now.

Between fittings, Muir even managed a quick sing-along in lip sync booth. "I went in with sprinters Adam Gemili and Asha Philip," she laughs. "We had Bluetooth headphones on and had to mime along to the words. That was really good fun."

A dozen Scottish track and field athletes including Eilidh Doyle, Lynsey Sharp and Lennie Waite have been confirmed in the team for Rio – the largest contingent since Munich 1972.

Muir praised what she described as a "great momentum" in Scottish athletics, alongside a strong sense of camaraderie which has spurred everyone to strive for greatness.

"It is fantastic we have so many Scots in the team," she says. "We have smashed it in terms of numbers. I hope that seeing us compete in Rio will inspire more youngsters to work hard and hopefully we will have even more in future Olympics."

While a 98-strong Great Britain team will head to the 2016 European Athletics Championships that begin in Amsterdam on Wednesday, Muir – having already more than proved herself – will spend the next three weeks reaping the benefits of training at altitude.

It is a prospect she relishes. "It is really nice and pretty here," she says. "I will run, eat and sleep. It is great to get away from all the commotion. I'm out here with a good group of athletes as well."

Joining her in Font Romeu is a clutch of Team GB athletes including fellow Scots Andrew Butchart and Chris O'Hare, both of whom booked their places for Rio with victory in the 5000m and silver over 1500m respectively at the British Championships.

Muir's coach Andy Young has been a mentor and constant reassuring figure by her side over the past four-and-a-half years. Did he have any special words after she sealed her Rio place?

"I got a hug," she laughs. "I thought: 'Wow, I must have done something right.' He was pretty chuffed. It is a big deal for an athlete to go to the Olympics, but it also means a great deal for a coach to have an athlete going too. We have both grown together and conquered new territory."

Mark Pollard, performance manager at Scottish Athletics – a two-time Scottish cross-country champion – has joined the duo in Font Romeu to act as pacemaker on some training runs.

"At home I train with other people and it can be hard in tougher sessions to hit those times by yourself," says Muir. "Mark will be here to help pace me and hopefully hit the times I need to. It is good for morale to have a bit of company."

Muir will race at the IAAF Diamond League, part of the Muller Anniversary Games in London, on July 22 where she will face British compatriot Laura Weightman, Commonwealth 5000m gold medallist Mercy Cherono and former world indoor champion Hellen Obiri in a fiercely competitive field.

Muir's personal best over 1500m is a blistering 3:58.66 clocked at the Diamond League in Monaco last summer. She is already being tipped to challenge Kelly Holmes' British record of 3:57.90 and her stint in Font Romeu could help stoke that ambition.

"Everyone reacts differently to training at altitude," she says. "Some people feel good for a couple of days but then a bit tired. Generally, I have found that I keep on flying. Hopefully that continues."