Team Scotland has teamed up with Last Rep Coffee in a new partnership blending elite and community sport through a purpose-driven brand, co-owned by athlete Jake Wightman.
The agreement will see Last Rep Coffee become an Official Partner of Team Scotland as preparations continue for a home Games this summer.
At the heart of the partnership is a bespoke Team Scotland coffee product, created to fuel athletes and fans at Glasgow 2026.
Last Rep Coffee will donate 10% of profits from every sale to the Team Scotland Youth Trust, directly supporting the next generation of Scottish athletes.
Founded by Olympic athletes Jake Wightman and Zak Seddon, Last Rep Coffee is built on shared passion for sport and coffee. With over a decade of competing at the highest level, the pair developed an appreciation for coffee as a way to connect away from sport.
The partnership will come to life at Team Scotland House during Glasgow 2026 where fans can purchase the co-branded coffee, with activations including run clubs and community events designed to bring fans closer to the team.
Jake Wightman, who was among the first Team Scotland athletes selected for Glasgow 2026 after winning silver in the men’s 1500m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, said: “Last Rep Coffee was created to help athletes connect away from training and competing and I’m excited about the opportunity to extend that to Team Scotland athletes and supporters at Glasgow 2026 through this partnership.
“The commitment to donate to the Youth Trust was also a really important factor in partnering with Team Scotland. It’s vital that athletes continue to support younger athletes coming through, and it’s great that every bag of coffee sold can play a role in that journey.”
Colin Millar, Head of Marketing and Commercial Operations at Team Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Last Rep Coffee into the Team Scotland family. This is a partnership that feels authentic, from its athlete connection through Jake to its focus on community and giving back.
“As we build towards Glasgow 2026 and beyond, this collaboration allows us to engage fans in a new way while directly supporting the next generation of Scottish athletes through the Team Scotland Youth Trust.”
Team Scotland has revealed its Ceremony Outfits for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The attire, which will be worn during the Opening Ceremony on 23rd July 2026, was unveiled at a special dinner to mark 100 days to go until the Games, bringing together stakeholders, partners, athletes and supporters.
The Team Scotland tartan for Glasgow 2026, unveiled on Tartan Day on 6th
April, takes a bold new direction, using the Team Scotland thistle logo as inspiration and incorporating metallic gold yarn to represent the team’s ambition and pursuit of success. Gold embroidery on the shirt collar and custom-made kilt pins tie-in the thistle design and metallic gold from the tartan, as accents in the full outfit.
In addition to the main team attire, the outfits to be worn by the flagbearers were also revealed, adding a jacket and fly plaid to create an eye-catching contemporary twist on tradition.
Team Scotland is delighted to be collaborating with award-winning Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie for a third time. Siobhan, who kick-started her career as tailoring technician at Glasgow 2014, designed the women’s Ceremony Outfit for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the tartan and Ceremonies Outfits at Birmingham 2022.
She has once again designed all elements for the team at Glasgow 2026, from the tartan to the outfits and accessories, with everything being manufactured in Scotland.
Siobhan said: “It’s an incredible honour to be asked to design the Ceremony Outfits for Team Scotland at a home Games. I want the athletes to walk out into the Opening Ceremony feeling great in their outfit, with the bold colours and introduction of metallic gold representing their drive and determination.
“The outfits are classic and timeless, with the tartan very much the focus.
“It’s also really important to me that everything is made in Scotland, from the woven cloth to the finished garments and accessories, supporting local textiles and craftsmanship.”
Team Scotland Chef de Mission Elinor Middlemiss MBE said: “After months of planning it is really exciting to see the designs come to life and we are delighted with the new look created by Siobhan.
“I hope our athletes will take great pride in wearing it as they make their grand entrance in front of a home crowd this summer.”
All female athletes and team staff are given the choice of kilt length, ensuring they can tailor their look to personal preference. Modifications are also made where required to cater for specific requirements of our para athletes.
Tickets to watch Team Scotland compete at Glasgow 2026 are available now. Secure your seats at www.glasgow2026.com
Most of her teammates have parents or grandparents who played, she took the Scottish National Triples title with a mother and daughter pair, but Sophie McGrouther is one of a kind. Crowned World Indoor Singles Champion in 2025 at the age of just 21, she’s forging her own path in the bowls world and turning stereotypes on their head.
“No one else in my family plays,” she says. “The fact that I’ve gone on to play at such a high level is definitely a unique story, but I hope it’s quite an inspiring one for people out there who want to get started as well.
“I just came from nowhere really so I’m trying to be that story for people, that this is something that you can do. It’s a sport you can just come into and if you put the practice in, you can go anywhere that you want to with it.”
Sophie is certainly going places. From taking up bowls age 10 after a taster session at primary school, she has risen to become one of the best players in the world and is making a strong bid to be on Team Scotland for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Success came quickly when, at just 14 years old, Sophie became the youngest player ever to qualify to play at the Scottish National Championships. Naturally that attracted a lot of attention, but she remained unphased, making it to the semi-finals of the Under 25 singles, an incredible feat against opposition up to 10 year her senior.
“At the time I didn’t really understand,” she reflects. “I was just me and just wanted to play my bowls. I didn’t understand what was so special about that, but looking back now, I can definitely see why it had the attention that it did.
“Because of the pressure that I’d felt people putting on me, it did sting a bit more when I was beaten, but it was a big learning moment in dealing with pressure at a young age.”
Fast forward seven years and she pulled on all she’d learned to land the biggest accolade of her career to date – a World Championship gold medal in front of a home crowd in Aberdeen.
“It was surreal,” says Sophie. “I went purely looking to get some experience. I’d played in the Under 25s, but this was my first time at the full World Championships. As the week went on and I was still playing well, I never really thought too much about it until I was in the final. It only really started to sink in when the last bowl was played and it was, ‘oh my goodness, you’re a World Champion!’
“At the medal ceremony, standing on the top step of the podium and the whole stadium singing Flower of Scotland, that was something very special, but not something I’d ever dreamed about actually becoming a reality.”
That moment has given Sophie a taste for more, and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games sits high in her priorities. With selection taking place in the next few weeks, she’s hoping she’s done enough to earn a place on Team Scotland.
“It would be an absolute dream come true to be picked for the Commonwealth Games,” she says. “I would just be looking forward to taking in every single minute of that experience and the crowds and the performance that comes with that. Obviously I’d be hoping to medal but also just taking in every second of the experience and enjoying it.”
Thrust into the spotlight after her World Championship win, the learning has continued as she has had to deal with a whole new set of pressures.
“After the Worlds I had a bit of imposter syndrome. I’d gone away for a week and come back as a World Champion and I felt that people were kind of looking at me differently, which I did struggle with.
“I’ve been working a lot with a sports psychologist, just to learn some different strategies, which I think is not something that’s spoken about a lot in bowls. It’s not seen as a sport that can be mentally taxing but it definitely is. Just like in any sport, being mentally strong is so important.
“Working with a sports psychologist has really helped me to sort my mindset out. It has been a big flip in my perspective from winning and learning to deal with the self-doubt and the pressure to make sure I’m as strong as I can be.”
During her victorious World Indoor Championships, she was juggling finishing her final dissertation as part of her Primary Education degree in between her Singles and Mixed Pairs games. It was always her dream to be a teacher and it’s important for her to pass on her experiences, so for the past two years she has been guiding the next generation as a District Youth Co-Ordinator for Bowls Scotland.
“Since I was young, I’d line up my teddies playing schools and making worksheets, dragging my little brother into it,” she laughs. “It was always there from a young age, naturally taking on that teaching role that I’ve always wanted.”
“I just wanted to inspire people. Knowing how I felt when I was in those shoes at a young age it’s nice to be able to give encouragement and support when it’s needed. It’s very different to playing on the green myself, but trying to be that mentor and guiding people through, I do really enjoy it.”
If given the nod for Glasgow 2026, she’ll have the opportunity to inspire a nation, and the young players she’s guided will surely be some of her loudest supporters in the stands.
Team Scotland will compete in Bowls and Para Bowls at the SEC Centre from 24 July – 2 August with tickets starting from £17 for adults and £13 for concessions. Available at https://glasgow2026.tmtickets.co.uk/
Team Scotland has unveiled its official tartan for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, created in collaboration with the award-winning Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie.
The new tartan, revealed on Tartan Day, is designed exclusively for Team Scotland, and takes a bold new direction while staying rooted in tradition.
It features a deep navy base, lifted with vibrant purples, pinks and greens, reflecting the energy of the team and the pride of representing Scotland on the international stage. At its centre is a striking metallic gold thread, introduced as a new yarn to symbolise Team Scotland’s ambition and pursuit of success at Glasgow 2026.
The design draws on the Team Scotland thistle, with the distinctive stripes from the head of the thistle running through the middle of the tartan.
Siobhan’s connection to the Commonwealth Games goes back more than a decade. She began her career as a tailoring technician at Glasgow 2014 before designing Team Scotland’s womenswear for Gold Coast 2018 and enhancing her involvement further by undertaking the full design and production of the tartan and opening ceremony outfits for Birmingham 2022.
She has also worked with Glasgow 2026 to design an official tartan for this year’s Games, taking place between 23 July and 2 August.
Siobhan Mackenzie said: “It’s an incredible honour to be asked to design a tartan for Team Scotland as the Games return to Glasgow.
“I wanted to create something that respects tradition but also moves it forward, with bold colours and the introduction of metallic gold to reflect the drive and determination of the athletes who will wear it.
“It’s also really important to me that everything is made in Scotland. From the weaving through to the final pieces. This is a celebration of Scottish craftsmanship as much as it is of Team Scotland.”
The tartan will feature across Team Scotland’s official kit for Glasgow 2026, including ceremony wear for athletes and team officials, and will become a defining symbol of the team at a home Games.
Elinor Middlemiss, Chef de Mission for Team Scotland at Glasgow 2026, added: “Tartan is one of the strongest symbols of Scotland’s identity and this design captures exactly what it means to represent the country on the international stage.
“Siobhan has a brilliant ability to blend heritage with something more modern and this tartan reflects Team Scotland perfectly. It’s especially fitting to see it unveiled on Tartan Day where so many people around the world celebrate their connection to Scotland and Scottish heritage.
“With a home Games coming up, this is something our athletes and team members will wear with pride and I’m sure it will become a big part of Glasgow 2026.”
Team Scotland will reveal its formal wear at a ceremony in Glasgow next Monday, with the tartan set for its first official showing ahead of this summer’s Games.
Team Scotland Tartan – Glasgow 2026
Four years ago at Birmingham 2022, Team Scotland’s Robyn Love had two life-changing moments. The first was expected – after two Paralympic Games, plus World and European medals for Great Britain, she pulled on a Scotland vest for the first time as 3 x 3 Wheelchair Basketball made its Commonwealth Game debut – the second took place in much less glamorous surroundings, was even more personal but was no less inextricably linked to her finding her sport nine years previously.
In a brief break away from the Games and Athletes’ Village, in a supermarket bathroom, she and partner Laurie Williams discovered they were going to be parents. The pair met through wheelchair basketball, playing on GB teams together and when Team Scotland’s 3 x 3 Wheelchair Basketball team take to the court at Glasgow 2026, their daughter Alba will be the team’s biggest fan.
“Laurie got IVF and it’s one of those things,” says Robyn. “There’s no perfect time, especially in sport. You never know if it’s going to be a positive result or not but luckily, for us, it was. We had a morning off, Laurie wasn’t allowed to come into the Village, so I had to go out. There wasn’t really anywhere for us to go, so Morrison’s – thank you! A really happy memory in a Morrison’s bathroom.
“But it doesn’t matter where it is, to have that moment during a Games, we also had a game later on and we won. To have that positive moment, there’s nothing like it and then obviously Alba was born. We didn’t name her that because that’s where we found out, representing Team Scotland, but it’s definitely in homage to Scotland that’s for sure.”
Incredibly, Laurie was back training and competing just four months after giving birth, joining Robyn in the European Championships squad that qualified the GB team for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Having grown up in Ayr, not realising para sport was an option, Robyn is delighted by the visibility that the Commonwealth Games gives, meaning others may find and benefit from sport earlier than she did.
“My disability is called arthrogryposis, it basically means that one leg is longer than the other and I’ve got reduced muscle power. The umbilical cord was wrapped around my legs in the womb, it’s not something they caught at the time, so it wasn’t until after I was born that my mum knew something wasn’t quite right.
“Growing up with a disability, where I’m from, I didn’t really know anybody with a disability, if I did it was on the very severe spectrum. So, growing up I didn’t really understand what disability was, I saw it almost as a negative thing.
“Whereas, I discovered paralympic sport when I was 22 years old, and now I realise that my disability is such a strength. With the media coverage surrounding the Paralympics and the Commonwealth Games, it’s no longer ‘Oh no, she’s got a disability,’ it’s ‘Oh, cool! I wonder what her disability is.’ It makes it inclusive, it makes it curious, it makes it exciting. I think that’s what sport does, it’s such a great social tool to educate people about disability – even me.”
Always a sporty child, it wasn’t until she went to university that Robyn got the chance to try the sport that would take her to international honours.
“In Ayr there wasn’t really basketball around at that time and it’s just something that’s always excited me, the ball going through the hoop, I just love it. So I tried it at university and loved it and then it was a few years later in 2013 I got in a chair for the first time and, yeah, love at first push.”
From there her rise in the sport was incredible, being selected for the GB team in early 2015, winning European bronze that same year and competing at her first Paralympic Games at Rio 2016, just missing out on bronze. A second European bronze followed in 2017 and World silver a year later, but there was one major event she never thought she’d get to compete at – the Commonwealth Games. Never before on the programme, 3 x 3 Wheelchair Basketball made its debut at Birmingham 2022 and returns for Glasgow 2026, fulfilling Robyn’s dream of competing with the saltire on her vest.
“The Commonwealth Games for me was almost one of those things, like maybe I could try another para sport, what could I try and do to compete for Scotland, I’m never going to get to compete for Scotland. And lo and behold, two Paralympics later, I get to put on that Team Scotland vest. It was honestly one of the best moments of my life and just to have my family in the stands was something special that I hope we can re-do in Glasgow.”
A fourth-place finish in Birmingham has the team pushing for the podium on home soil, something that Robyn would dearly love to be part of. She’s an official ambassador for Glasgow 2026, a role she embraces, and is ready to give her all on the court.
“Competing for Scotland is like nothing else. As Scottish people our culture, our togetherness, our doggedness, our energy, we are a great people. To be able to surround myself with the Scottish community and really get backed by Scotland is incredible. The GB community is special, it’s magical, but there’s just something in that the people of Scotland really get behind us. You can sense that when you’re on court, you can really feel it. To have that again in Glasgow, at a home Games? Bring it on.”
Watch Robyn talk more about her incredible story
Team Scotland will compete in 3×3 Basketball and 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball at the SEC Centre from 24-29 July with ticket prices ranging from £17 to £45 for non-medal sessions. Medal sessions are currently unavailable. Visit glasgow2026.com for more info.
Commonwealth Games Scotland is delighted to welcome Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) GB, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola globally, as the latest Official Partners of Team Scotland.
Gymnast Eilidh Gorrell, who represented Team Scotland at Birmingham 2022, joined Commonwealth Games Scotland’s Chief Executive, Jon Doig OBE and Glasgow 2026 Chief Executive, Phil Batty OBE, at CCEP’s East Kilbride site for a tour of local operations with CCEP’s Site Director for East Kilbride, Seamus Kerrigan, marking the launch of its partnership as the Official Soft Drinks Partner to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and an Official Partner of Team Scotland
At the Glasgow 2026 Games, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Powerade and Smartwater will be the Official Soft Drink, Sports Drink and Water providers, respectively.
To support Glasgow 2026’s commitment to a greener Games, CCEP is partnering with environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, on a project to clean up the riverbanks closest to the Commonwealth Games sports venues near to the River Clyde. CCEP will provide funding and volunteer support to the project.
The waste collected will support the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, which has been running as part of the King’s Baton Relay in all 74 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, with a mission to prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways before the Games commence.
CCEP will also work closely with the venue waste management teams to support recycling efforts throughout the Games. All CCEP bottles sold at venue outlets will be recyclable, with the 500ml range made from 100% recycled plastic.
Eilidh Gorrell, Birmingham 2022 Team Scotland gymnast & Glasgow 2026 hopeful, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant to see a brand like Coca-Cola supporting this year’s Commonwealth Games. As someone that’s grown up in East Kilbride, it was a real pleasure to be part of the launch and to have the opportunity to meet the staff, who like me are local to the area and passionate about the work they do.”
Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive at Glasgow 2026, added: “We’re proud to welcome back one of the world’s most iconic brands to the Commonwealth Games sponsor family. Coca-Cola joins us with a wealth of experience in elevating spectator experience at major events, while also encouraging behaviour change when it comes to sustainability, which supports our ambition to deliver a greener Games.
“The incredible team at East Kilbride is manufacturing a world-class product locally in Scotland and we’re looking forward to working with the team over the coming months.”
Jon Doig OBE, Chief Executive at Team Scotland, added: “Coca-Cola’s commitment to supporting communities, promoting sustainability and celebrating local Scottish manufacturing reflects the values we champion for Team Scotland athletes. We’re thrilled to welcome a world-leading brand who are so embedded within the local community as a partner for Glasgow 2026.”
The Hydro, one of the greatest live entertainment venues on the planet, is set to host the first arena-staged Opening Ceremony in Commonwealth Games history and Glasgow 2026 is calling for 700 enthusiastic, energetic volunteers to be part of something unforgettable.
Be Part of the Glasgow 2026 Opening Ceremony
On 23 July the Opening Ceremony will be the opening act for 11 days of world-class sporting celebration bringing the audience closer to the action in an immersive, electric and unmissable moment.
The Ceremony is being designed and delivered by renowned Glasgow-based creatives, led by Louisa Mahon, Glasgow 2026’s overall creative lead for Ceremonies. Roxana Cole joins as show and staging director, whilst choreography will be overseen by Emily-Jane Boyle and costume design by Carole Millar.
Glasgow 2026 will recruit volunteer cast members, representatives from cultural community groups and athlete volunteer marshals to step into the spotlight in a world-class venue and take part in live and pre-recorded moments of the show.
Roles range from welcoming the athletes, to high-energy dance numbers, scripted performances, storytelling and so much more.
Casting is now open and Glasgow 2026 is keen to hear from:
– Dancers – all styles: classical, contemporary, jazz, urban/street dance, ballroom, social, traditional, and culturally specific.
– Theatre performers – drama students, amateur dramatic groups, musical theatre students or anyone with experience in theatre, film, or live performance.
– Musicians – singers, percussionists, drummers, or anyone with musical flair.
– All-round performers – not everyone needs a specific skill; some roles simply need enthusiasm, energy, and a passion for this once in a lifetime experience
Minimum volunteer age is 16 and no previous is experience required. Passionate people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to showcase the city’s local communities and cultures.
Louisa Mahon, Ceremonies Creative Lead and Chief Marketing Officer at Glasgow 2026, said: “From iconic directors and actors to global producers, choreographers and set designers, Glasgow and Scotland are bursting with creativity. We’re working with some incredible female creatives to build a ceremony that’s bold, unmistakably Glasgow and unlike anything the Commonwealth Games has produced before.
“The Hydro is a spectacular venue and this ceremony is being designed to be experienced, not observed – one that will translate to broadcast in a way that stadium ceremonies simply cannot match.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for volunteers to follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest global superstars who have performed in front of cheering crowds in the Hydro bowl. No matter your background, ability or experience – we want to hear from you, this is your moment!”
The deadline to apply is 24 April (subject to close if demand is high) and auditions will take place in Glasgow on 9-10 May.
Submit your application at glasgow2026.com/casting.
To be the first to hear about tickets, sign-up to the Glasgow 2026 newsletter via glasgow2026.com
The Scottish Government has announced £245,000 of funding to support the King’s Baton Relay (KBR) in Scotland ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The funding, awarded to Commonwealth Games Scotland, will support at least 22 community events during the host nation leg from 1 to 23 July 2026, with the relay travelling to cities, rural areas and island communities. It will culminate in the Opening Ceremony of the Games.
Communities and sports clubs are encouraged to express their interest in hosting a visit, with the application process open until the end of March 2026.
There is also an open call for designers to apply for the commission for the decoration of Scotland’s Baton – Decorate the Baton – which closes tomorrow 12 March.
Sport Minister Maree Todd visited GalGael, a social enterprise based in Govan, Glasgow, whose craftspeople hand-made the batons for the relay using ash from Pollok Park.
She said:
“Visiting GalGael and seeing the craftsmanship that has gone into creating the batons is a wonderful reminder of what makes this relay so special. I’m pleased that Scottish Government funding will help bring the King’s Baton Relay to communities right across Scotland this summer.
“Whether a sports club, a community group, or simply want to be part of the build-up to Glasgow 2026, I’d encourage everyone to get involved. These free community events are a real opportunity to get active, connect with others, and improve wellbeing right across Scotland. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate what makes Scotland unique on a truly global stage, and I want as many people as possible to be part of it.”
Gayle McPherson, Director of Legacy and Community Engagement at Commonwealth Games Scotland, said:
“The King’s Baton Relay is a special part of the build-up to Glasgow 2026 and will connect communities across Scotland with the excitement of a home Games. The baton itself carries the message of a sustainable Games, made from reclaimed ash from a Glasgow park by the traditional craftspeople at GalGael in Govan.
“The Scottish Government’s support will help bring the relay to towns, cities and island communities right across the country to ensure everyone is part of the celebrations and provide fans with the opportunity to show their support for Team Scotland as our athletes make their final preparations for Glasgow 2026.”
The KBR activation in Scotland will deliver free public events, creating opportunities for communities and sports clubs the length and breadth of the country to be part of the build-up to Glasgow 2026.
The Scottish Government is also providing £15 million of funding for sporting organisations to offer free, accessible and inclusive physical activity opportunities to capitalise on a “spectacular summer of sport”.
Team Scotland and LEA Winery have announced a landmark five-year partnership that will see the Italian producer become an Official Partner through the next two Commonwealth Games cycles – Glasgow 2026 and Amdavad 2030.
The long-term agreement brings together high-performance sport and a modern, premium zero-alcohol brand at a defining moment for Scottish sport, ahead of a home Games in Glasgow this summer.
At the heart of the partnership is Franc Lizêr, LEA Winery’s premium zero-alcohol sparkling brand, which will feature across Team Scotland events, partner activations and official receptions. Together, the partnership aims to champion a contemporary culture of celebration and one that reflects performance, wellbeing, inclusion and responsibility.
The collaboration is built on shared values: ambition, discipline, sustainability and forward-thinking growth. LEA Winery enters the partnership with several sustainability certifications, reinforcing its measurable commitment to responsible production and environmental stewardship. These credentials align closely with Team Scotland’s progressive commercial strategy and the evolving expectations of global sport audiences.
For LEA Winery, the partnership accelerates its strategic expansion within the UK market through association with one of Scotland’s most recognised sporting platforms. For Team Scotland, the agreement strengthens long-term commercial stability and enhances activation opportunities as it builds towards Glasgow 2026 and beyond.
Eleonora Spadotto, Co-Owner and Sales Director of LEA Winery, said: “From the very beginning, this partnership felt like a natural alignment. Team Scotland represents excellence earned through commitment and resilience — values that guide our work at LEA every day. Together, we want to redefine how success is celebrated, combining premium quality with responsibility and sustainability.”
Colin Millar, Head of Marketing and Commercial Operations at Team Scotland, said: “We are proud to welcome LEA Winery into the Team Scotland family. Their focus on sustainability and modern celebration aligns with the direction of elite sport today. This long-term partnership will help us support our athletes while presenting a progressive image of Scottish sport on the international stage.
Hope Gordon, one of Scotland’s most versatile athletes and 2024 Paralympic silver medallist in paracanoe, has been selected to Team Scotland to compete in para powerlifting at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Hope watched the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 from her bed in Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, little did the then 13-year-old know that, one day, she would not only be competing herself but would bring home a medal.
Hope was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following years of pain in her left leg and elected to have the leg amputated in 2016 to improve her quality of life. She had always been active, something that doctors think may have stopped her condition spreading to other limbs. Having begun in swimming, she moved to paracanoeing in 2018, making her international debut in her new sport in 2019.
Since then, she has won eight World Championship medals, two of which were gold, three European Championships medals, including one gold, and five World Cup medals, two of which gold, including gold in the VL3 events at all three competitions in the same season in 2025. She took silver at Paris 2024 behind ParalympicsGB team mate Charlotte Henshaw.
In 2022, she demonstrated the wide range of her talent by competing at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, becoming ParalympicsGB’s first ever female para Nordic skier, competing in the Cross Country Sprint and Middle Distance events.
With Glasgow hosting the Games this summer, Hope was determined to be there. She took up para powerlifting in June 2025 with the aim of competing on home soil under a Scottish flag for the first time.
She has made astonishing progress, demonstrating her incredible athletic pedigree by making her debut at the World Championships in 2025, just four months after taking up the sport. She will compete in the Women’s Heavyweight (over 61kg) event and is looking forward to the challenge.
Hope said: “I’m delighted to officially be part of Team Scotland, for me that’s been a lifelong dream. When I heard the Games were heading back to Glasgow, I knew I had to at least try to be part of it. I never in a million years thought it would take the route that it has, but it’s really exciting regardless.
“Glasgow’s a city that holds a lot of memories for me, it’s where I spent a lot of time in hospital as a child, so it’s been a big part of my life, just not necessarily for the most positive of reasons. For my family as well, having to travel down from the Highlands to Glasgow on a regular basis to visit me in hospital, it was a pretty tough time for them too.
“The thought of being able to compete for Scotland in Scotland, and in Glasgow, and try to spin those memories to make it more of a positive vibe for my family and friends is exciting.”
She continues to juggle a busy schedule across two sports, with hopes of being selected for the Paracanoe World Championships just four weeks after the Commonwealth Games, but can see the benefit of each of her sports to the other.
“I think within seven weeks I could potentially have a World Cup in Canada for canoeing, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and then the World Champs in Poland if I’m selected, so it’s definitely going to be a busy summer!
“In canoeing it’s a sprint distance, it’s 200m, so because of that you have to be strong. We do quite a lot in the gym and huge proportion of that is bench press, it’s something I’ve always been quite strong at in a canoeing context.
“Obviously being strong at bench press within canoeing and then transferring that across to powerlifting is quite different, I’ve definitely had to unlearn a lot of what I knew about bench press and relearn that. But I also thought if I could get stronger in the gym that could translate across onto the water. So that’s the plan; to get as strong as possible in the gym and then shift that focus and take that strength onto the water.”
Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Hope to Team Scotland for Glasgow 2026. Her achievements across paracanoe and para Nordic skiing are remarkable, and this latest chapter underlines her exceptional determination and athletic ability.
“To take on a new sport and reach this level so quickly is hugely impressive, and we look forward to seeing her compete on home soil this summer.”
Athletes from across all 10 sports and six para sports featured at Glasgow 2026 will be selected in the coming months as Team Scotland shapes up for an exciting home Games.
Para Powerlifting takes place at the SEC Armadillo on 24 July with ticket prices ranging from £26 to £45. Visit glasgow2026.com for more info.