Judo Star Shaw Balances McDonald's Job and Olympic Dreams

Shaw, a 22-year-old judo athlete, made history by winning Scotland's first judo medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing a bronze in the women's 48kg event. Just days after her achievement, she returned to her part-time job at McDonald's, which she has held since studying for her A-levels.

Shaw typically works two to three shifts a week and has praised her employers for their flexibility, allowing her to balance work, studies, and training at the British Judo Olympic and Paralympic National Training Centre in Walsall. Despite her success, Shaw expressed concerns about financial security for athletes in judo, noting that while she receives an Athlete Performance Award from UK Sport and the National Lottery, some competition costs are out-of-pocket.

She has personally funded her upcoming competition in Peru and has launched a GoFundMe page to help support her goal of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.