Hope Gordon, 31, is set to make history at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by becoming the first athlete to compete in three different sports at the event. She will represent Scotland in para powerlifting, exactly 10 years after raising £10,000 through crowdfunding to amputate her own leg due to a rare and incurable condition.
From chronic pain to para-athlete
Gordon grew up in Rogart, Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands, where she enjoyed an active childhood on a small croft with sheep and horses. However, after starting secondary school, she developed a persistent pain in her knee that was initially dismissed as growing pains. The pain escalated, leaving her struggling to walk and reliant on crutches and a wheelchair, with friends helping her navigate school.
She was eventually diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and incurable condition causing severe, long-term nerve pain. Gordon described the pain as "like having barbed wire dragged across your leg, but the wire was also on fire." She underwent repeated hospital treatments, including regular trips to Glasgow Children's Hospital, but her condition did not improve.
Decision to amputate
Gordon considered amputation from as young as 14, but the procedure fell outside NHS guidelines for CRPS. She said: "It can't be an easy thing to hear, but my parents were very understanding. It sounds strange, but I never saw amputation as a negative thing. To me it was always positive."
She sought private treatment and raised £10,000 through crowdfunding, supported by friends, family, and strangers. The operation took place on August 2, 2016, when she was 21. Afterward, Gordon said she "felt like I could breathe again."
Sporting achievements
After her recovery, Gordon turned to parasports. She returned to swimming and trained at the University of Stirling, then transitioned to Nordic skiing, qualifying for the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing. She later took up canoeing and won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris in the Women's Va'a Single 200m VL3 race.
With no canoeing programme at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Gordon switched to para powerlifting, leveraging her upper-body strength. Her selection marks another milestone as she becomes the first female para powerlifter to represent Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.
Making history at the Commonwealth Games
Speaking ahead of the Games, which begin in Glasgow on Thursday, July 23, Gordon said: "As soon as I saw the Games coming back to Scotland, I knew I had to be there – especially with the closing ceremony falling on the anniversary of my operation. I knew not trying would be a regret."
She added: "I want to show myself, and everybody else, that going through with it was the right thing for me – nobody knows your own body as well as you do."
Gordon also emphasised her role as a role model: "Obviously, I want to compete, but it's also about showing young girls that being strong is cool, and teaching children that people are different, regardless of what that looks like. It's about showing people that everyone is different, but that's not something to be scared of. If my story can help even one person, then that's a good job done."
Official reaction
Phil Batty OBE, CEO of Glasgow 2026, said: "Hope Gordon's story captures the essence of what the Commonwealth Games is all about: resilience, ambition and the power of sport to change lives. To see her compete for the first medal of the Games, on a home stage, in front of a Scottish crowd will be incredibly special. There's no doubt she will be an inspiration to fans everywhere."
