Hope Gordon's journey to the Commonwealth Games is a story of resilience that began in a hospital bed overlooking Glasgow's SEC Armadillo. The 31-year-old para-powerlifter, who will compete in her home country next summer, recalls watching the venue from Yorkhill Children's Hospital as a teenager, wondering what life beyond her ward might hold.

Gordon's path to Glasgow 2026 started in the tiny settlement of Rogart, where she grew up playing multiple sports. At age 12, her left knee pain escalated into complex regional pain syndrome, leading to nine grueling years of treatments and hospital stays. The turning point came at 21 when she made the "best decision" of her life - electing to amputate her left leg to improve her quality of life and stem the condition's spread.

Since then, Gordon has become a decorated athlete, winning Paralympic silver in para-canoeing at Paris 2024 and competing in winter sports at the 2022 Paralympics. Her Commonwealth Games selection in powerlifting came through an unexpected route - bench press training for her main sport of canoeing. For Gordon, these Games represent more than medals; they're about transforming painful Glasgow memories into positive moments for her family and friends.