Commonwealth Medalist Returns to Fast-Food Job Amid Financial Struggles
Scottish judo athlete Summer Shaw has been making headlines after winning Scotland's first-ever bronze medal in the women's 48kg event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Just days later, she returned to her part-time job at McDonald's, despite being a gold medallist. Shaw started working at the fast-food restaurant while studying for her A-levels and continues to work two or three shifts a week when she is not training.
'It's hard to find jobs like it though that are flexible with your hours,' Shaw said in an interview, highlighting the challenges faced by athletes in balancing their careers and sporting ambitions.
Shaw receives some financial support through the Athlete Performance Award from UK Sport and the National Lottery, but she still has to cover some competition costs herself. She has also set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds towards her Olympic ambitions, including qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.