Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Toni Shaw has made the Scotland team despite struggling with back injuries
ByTyrone SmithBBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter- Published1 hour ago
Scottish swimmer Toni Shaw believes this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will be "absolutely huge" for the Para-sport community.
While the event as a whole has been truncated, it will represent the largest integrated Para-sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.
A record 47 medal events in Paralympic disciplines will be contested across six of the 10 sports.
"There has been so much progress," said Shaw, who won a bronze medal in the pool at the 2020 Paralympics. "I think it is going to have such a knock-on effect everywhere, not just in Scotland.
"I think the Para-sport community will really grow from having this coverage, so I think it is just incredible."
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Shaw, 22, recalled watching the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
'When I was in the crowd, it inspired me," she added. "So hopefully other people, if they have a disability, seeing an increased Para-sport participation, it might inspire them to take up a sport.
'It is one of the only competitions where the able-bodied and Para-sports are done side by side, so the increased coverage and everything about that I think is just amazing."
Being in the stands at Tollcross back in 2014 helped convince a then-10 year old Shaw that "this is really cool, I want to do this".
The Aberdonian admitted going there now as a competitor "is a dream come true moment".
Under normal circumstances she would be among Team Scotland's big medal hopes.
As well as that Paralympic bronze, Shaw also boasts an eye-watering collection of other major championship medals, which includes three world golds and two European golds, as well as a Commonwealth Games bronze, which she won in Birmingham four years ago.
However, she said a back injury means it "isn't really achievable" to dream of topping the podium this time round.
"It has been tough to be honest," Shaw added. "I had a back injury in 2024 and I have had a steroid injection in it and I have had some treatment for it, so it is doing a lot better, but it is just I haven't been able to get back to the times I was doing before that.
"It has been quite difficult, but to get on the team was my main goal and to have done that I am really proud and really looking forward to the summer.
"I just want to give it everything I have got."
