Commonwealth Games 2026: Weightlifter Hope Gordon talks about her goals in Glasgow

And how. A highly touted swimmer during her teenage years, Gordon initially maintained that but found herself eager to try something else.

This thing would be like canoeing. “You still have the element of water, and if you have a disability, water gives a person a sense of freedom because it’s easier to move on water than on land,” she says. “You just checked the boxes.”

She was soon invited to join the British team, moved to Nottingham and has been there ever since, winning world medals and Paralympic silver in Paris in 2024.

Gordon even found time to immerse himself in winter sports, going to the 2022 Winter Paralympics as a Nordic snowboarder after 2026 Olympic flag bearer Scott Minagh convinced him to take part.

Rowing is her main sport, although she will compete in World Cup and World Championships events on both sides of the Commonwealth.

It was her training that led Gordon to choose weightlifting as a way to fulfill her lifelong dream of being part of the Scotland team.

“The bench press is one of the main exercises for rowing, so when the program was announced, I looked at the menu and thought this might be it,” she explains.

“I had a lot to learn and relearn but hopefully it will benefit me in the water as well.”

Gordon is keen to temper her medal expectations, insisting that these Games are actually about something much bigger for her than just a podium finish.

Having watched some of the swimmers she trained with win gold in 2014 – “I was in the crowd and managed to sing Rose of Scotland three times watching Hannah Miley, Ross Murdoch and Dan Wallace” – she has long wanted to represent Scotland.

“Communists were a big dream of mine,” the aspiring bagpiper explains, sitting in her English home surrounded by Scottish memorabilia. “More than some might argue are bigger goals, like the Paralympics.

“Glasgow is a city that holds a lot of memories for me, but not necessarily for the more positive reasons. So, the idea of ​​being able to make it more positive for my family and friends will be a real full circle moment.”