Winning Commonwealth bronze, representation and a Games legacy
Toni Shaw arrived in Glasgow, as a one time Commonwealth medalist, a Team Scotland fan favourite, and with hopes of producing the performance of a lifetime in front of a packed. She left with a Commonwealth bronze medal, memories to last a lifespan, and confidence in a Commonwealth Games legacy that will empower more individuals with a disability to take part in sport and physical activity.
The 22-year-old walked out on to the starting platform in Tollcross International Swimming Centre on Wednesday 29th July, with one thing on her mind, finishing her Glasgow 2026 with a statement, in front of her family, friends and coach. What transpired in the coming moments had the Scottish sporting landscape completely captivated, as a heroic final length push propelled Toni on to the podium, winning Women’s S9 100m Freestyle bronze.
Glasgow 2026 was Toni Shaw’s third appearance at a Commonwealth Games, having competed at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, winning Women’s S9 100m Freestyle bronze in the latter. As well as competing for Team Scotland, Toni has represented ParalympicsGB on two occasions, winning Women’s S9 400m Freestyle bronze at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, and competed at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. However, it hasn’t all been easy for Toni, with injuries threatening to derail her career over the past three seasons.
She said: “I was really proud to get the medal, being part of Team Scotland, it’s hard to describe how special it is, everyone is just really behind you.”
“It was such a close race, obviously when I was swimming, I had no idea where I was, but I could hear the crowd over the last few metres, and they really spurred me on.”
“It was so good, obviously getting to compete at a home Games, it is something that most athletes dream of, and now I understand why. The crowd was just amazing, having my family and friends there just really meant a lot.”
Behind every athletes calm, cool demeanor, there are struggles and doubts. Toni isn’t an exception to this, facing several injuries over recent seasons, disrupting her preparations, training and performances. However, Toni hasn’t let this effect her, staying resolute, with her love for the sport coming through in every performance, making the victories feel even sweeter, she commented: “Over the last few seasons, I haven’t always been near to my best times, and I have been dealing with a lot of injuries. I wasn’t really sure how I was going to perform going into the competition.”
“In the race, it’s not always about your time, it’s about where you come, and I was really happy to get the medal.”
Growing up and progressing through the Scottish swimming pathway in Aberdeen, Toni was widely renowned as a childhood prodigy in the pool, having 14 Scottish records to her name by the time she was 14-years-old, going on to make her first start for Team Scotland at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games when she was aged just 14.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games had the largest Para Sport programme in the events history, with 47 medal events in Para disciplines, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. Toni’s lived experience and knowledge of the impact that active representation can have, coupled with her role as an ambassador for Scottish Swimming’s Learn To Swim programme, makes her excited to see the legacy that the multi-sport event has. She said: “The Commonwealth Games had the most Para Athletes and Para Sports competing in it ever. I remember watching Glasgow 2014, and I was watching other people like me, and I was thinking ‘if they can do that so can I’. I think just having more exposure can really help move on disability sport participation.”
“It’s special to be part of something like that in Glasgow, I think it will have a lasting effect, within the community and the place. I’m an ambassador for the Learn To Swim programme, and I’m really passionate about everyone learning to swim, and the Para side of that, and hopefully by people seeing me and other individuals with disabilities, it can inspire others to try swimming.”
Toni has developed in the sport, coming through the University of Aberdeen’s Performance Swimming programme, under the stewardship of coach Jen Davies, and Scottish Swimming’s Disability Performance Development Manager Paul Wilson. Having had extremely positive experiences with all of her coaches, Toni understands how important they can be to an individuals enjoyment in the sport. A further reason why Toni has featured throughout Scottish Swimming’s See My Ability campaign and Learn To Swim Programme “I have been so lucky with my coaches, all of them have been great, I did my swimming lessons with learn to swim, and then they recommended me to join a club, so I started swimming with Cults Otters, with a coach called Liz Riley, and she just treated me like everyone else, which was amazing. Then I went on to have Gregor MacMillen, and again, he just treated me like everyone else which I really liked and enjoyed.”
To find out how you can get started on your pathway in sport, reach out to Scottish Disability Sport at admin@scottishdisabilitysport.com or contact your local SDS Branch.
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