Shaw won Scotland's first judo medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, a bronze in the 48kg event. 'It's so cool when it's something you've dreamed of doing since you were eight years old,' she told BBC Sport. After the medal, Shaw returned to her McDonald's job in Surrey, where she works part-time while studying biology. 'It's mostly seasonal because my job's back at home,' she said, highlighting the challenge of balancing elite sport with everyday work. Judo athletes often rely on grants like the Athlete Performance Award (APA) from UK Sport to cover costs, but Shaw still funds some competitions herself, like her trip to Peru for the Grand Prix. 'The money I get covers my living expenses, which is a blessing,' she noted.

To pursue the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Shaw launched a GoFundMe page, citing sponsorships as a 'game-changer' for funding her dreams. 'I'm also a normal person! Like, I want to save for a house,' she added.