Everyone at Scottish Disability Sport would like to say a massive congratulations to Hope Gordon for winning the Sport Category at the Young Scot Awards on Thursday 13th August 2020.
Hope, originally from Rogart in Highland got involved in para-sport at the age of 14. Now aged 25 Hope is an inspirational role model for young people across Scotland having had success in two different sports.
Her sporting career began as a swimmer where she swam for Tain and Highland Swim Team. Before moving to Stirling at the age of 16 to continue her training she then retired as a para-swimmer in 2018 as a member of East Lothian Swim Team.
That was not to be the end of her sporting journey though as she attended trials for the Great Britain para-canoe team and was selected as a member of the squad to train in Nottingham during the summer of 2018. During her debut year (2019) she finished 4th at the European Championships and her first World Cup Race and 5th at the World Championships.
It is not only Hope’s achievements within sport that make her such a remarkable and positive role model. Aged 16 Hope fought to have her left leg amputated, with the NHS refusing she sought out a private surgeon who agreed to carry out the procedure and crowdfunded raising the £10,000 needed to fund it, which was completed in 2016.
Hope is also an active member of Scottish Disability Sport’s Young Persons Sports Panel and shares her journey through sport, and how it has helped her with people across Scotland to encourage them to get involved. Her enthusiasm, passion and successes show that with hard work and not giving up on your dreams anything is possible.
On winning the award Hope said;
“It was a real surprise but a massive honor, especially given the high caliber of the other finalists. I have absolutely loved my time with canoeing since I first started in 2018, it is such a fast paced, competitive exciting sport. Although it is extremely successful Para Canoe doesn’t get a lot of recognition, so it is nice to put it on the map a little, especially within Scotland. However, sport to me is so much more than the racing, I really believe in the power of sport, the benefits are endless and the physical and psychological aspects of sport have helped me get through the toughest of times. I hope other people can get as much from sport as I have.”
Congratulations again from all of us!
If you live in Highland, have a disability and want to get involved in sport contact Kirsty Ewen Regional Manager on Kirsty.ewen@scottishdisabilitysport.com or 07792 057 153.