Sam Gough MBE’s journey in sport has been one that showcases the power of determination, resilience, and an unwillingness to take no for an answer.
At just three-years-old, Sam was a budding young athlete, taking part in Mini Kicker football events, adding dancing, swimming, cross country running, and other sports to her ever-growing schedule over the following years. For all, it looked like Sam was destined for a life of sport and physical activity.
Sam was ready and willing to jump head-first into any opportunity provided, and had the full backing of her sports enthused family. At that stage, no one would have predicted that Sam would have been excluded from her physical education classes within a few years; when a lack of accessible equipment, and education of teachers around disabilities and vision impairments, saw Sam denied the opportunity of taking part in physical education.
Others may have found this hard – just like Sam did – not all would have had the resilience to bounce back, going on to have an incredibly impressive career in sport. Even more impressively, not all would have had the willingness to extend an olive branch, eloquently going down the disability advocacy route, and educating people on accessible practices.
The 23-year-old said: “The teachers saw my vision impairment as a hazard, to not only myself but to other pupils.”
“I thought that for a long time I was the problem, I felt like I was the reason that I couldn’t compete in sport.”
“I wouldn’t wish my experience during that period on anybody else, but what it has done, it’s lit a fire within me to create positive change.”
The feeling of being excluded was extremely hard for Sam, especially after just having selected physical education as one of her chosen subjects that she would study in third year.
However, Sam didn’t let this deter her from taking part in sport and physical activity, looking for out of school options, joining swim clubs in Midlothian, and attending Scottish Disability Sport’s (SDS’s) National Championships and Parasport Festivals.
At one of SDS’s Parasport Festivals, Sam’s perception around how she could be included in sport changed, when a badminton session was modified to make it more accessible, saying: “They changed the white shuttlecock to a yellow balloon, which meant I could join in. That just shows how simple it is to adapt sport for someone who has a disability.”
“Having that done for me made me feel really empowered, to know that sport can be adapted and can be accessible.”
Towards the end of education in high school, Sam made the decision to transfer to the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.
Ultimately, this was a formative moment in Sam’s life, learning about herself as an individual with a vision impairment, and developing a new attitude to sport and physical activity. She commented: “In reality the Royal Blind School is where I learnt to advocate for myself, learn about my vision impairment, what it meant to be a young person with a vision impairment, and how it can empower you in every way possible.”
“There was an opportunity to attend a Para rowing session, and at the time I was doing a lot of other sports, and my physical education teacher didn’t let there be any barriers, he just said ‘Sam what’s one more sport, just give it a go’.”
So far in 2026, Sam has had an incredible year performing, reaching the podium several times in Para Rowing and Blind Football. Winning Quad bronze in the Spring Regatta, gold at the Henley Women’s Regatta, and winning two gold medals whilst representing Scotland at the Home International Nations Regatta, amongst a suite of other Para rowing medals. Also captaining the Lioness’s Blind Football team to silver in the World Championships and bronze at the European Championships “It’s been an incredible season, it’s probably been my biggest season to date, and I am just delighted that I could perform at that level, and show what is possible with hard work and determination.”
In June this year, Sam was awarded a MBE in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for services to sport and the visually impaired community. Recognition which was well deserved after years of Sam’s advocacy for individuals with vision impairments and disabilities, not only as an ambassador, but also through SDS’s Education and Learning courses and National Advisory Forum, where Sam attends as an active athlete, providing great insight and lived experience.
Sam said: “My passion has come from being excluded from sport, and now I am able to advocate for others, it’s one of the biggest turning points in my life.”
“I’ve gone into this big advocator role, and I really enjoy it, I love advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities, and for sport to be inclusive.”
“Education is one of the most important things when looking to make sport more inclusive, if not the biggest thing.”
“It’s not always even about sport being inclusive, it’s about disability awareness, and how that can transfer into day-to-day life, if people have knowledge of disabilities, it takes away different barriers, it’s really important.”
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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