Star Athletes to Discuss Life with Epilepsy in Pioneering Glasgow Panel
In a groundbreaking initiative ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, elite athletes with epilepsy will participate in what organizers describe as a "world-first" panel discussion focused on living with the condition while competing at the highest levels of international sport.
Unprecedented Discussion on Epilepsy in Elite Sports
The panel, hosted by Epilepsy Scotland, represents the first event of its kind to specifically address epilepsy within the context of non-para elite competition. This innovative discussion forms part of the All In for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games programme, which serves as a Scotland-wide call to action inviting cultural organizations, voluntary groups, communities, sports clubs, schools, and businesses to celebrate the Games while creating inclusive local activities.
Four prominent athletes will share their personal experiences: Commonwealth Games judo silver medallist Stephanie Inglis; World, European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene; four-time world-record-holding ultra-cyclist Katie Ford; and elite triathlete Annie Brooks. All participants have personal experience with epilepsy and will discuss the unique challenges of traveling, training, and competing at elite levels while managing the condition.
Increasing Visibility and Understanding
Lesslie Young OBE, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, emphasized the significance of this opportunity: "Glasgow 2026's All In programme gives us a genuinely high-profile opportunity to talk about epilepsy in a way elite sport rarely does. We're proud to partner with Glasgow 2026 to put lived experience and practical reality at the centre of the conversation, not as an add-on, but as part of what inclusion in sport should mean."
Young continued: "This panel is an exciting step forward for visibility, understanding and ambition, and we hope it helps more people recognise that epilepsy can be part of an elite athlete's story."
Despite affecting approximately one in 100 people in Scotland, epilepsy remains widely misunderstood according to Epilepsy Scotland. The organization hopes this panel discussion, which will be hosted by former professional basketball player Kieron Achara, will significantly increase public understanding of what genuine inclusion looks like within elite sports environments.
Athlete Perspectives on Epilepsy in Sports
Triathlete Annie Brooks shared her personal motivation for participating: "As someone living with epilepsy, I know first-hand how invisible and misunderstood the condition can be – especially in sport. I went years without a diagnosis, and now I've gone on to compete in endurance events I never thought possible."
Brooks added: "Being part of this world-first panel with Epilepsy Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is about showing that epilepsy doesn't have to hold athletes back – and making sure no one feels alone in their journey."
Event Details and Broader Context
The panel discussion will take place on May 19 at VS Conference & Events in Glasgow, serving as the launch event for Epilepsy Scotland's new national speaker series titled "Breaking Barriers." This initiative comes as Glasgow prepares to host the Commonwealth Games for the second time, with the event scheduled to run from July 23 to August 2, 2026 – exactly twelve years after the city last hosted the Games in 2014.
More than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories are expected to compete across 10 sports and six Para sports during the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This epilepsy panel represents a significant step toward greater inclusivity and awareness within the sporting community, challenging misconceptions while providing practical insights into how athletes successfully manage epilepsy alongside demanding training and competition schedules.
