Hope Gordon’s journey from chronic pain to Paralympic glory is nothing short of extraordinary.
The 31-year-old Scottish Para powerlifter crowdfunded £10,000 to have her left leg amputated after a decade of unbearable agony.
Now, she’s poised to make history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first athlete ever to compete at Summer Paralympics, Winter Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games across three different sports.
Her achievement takes on even deeper significance as the Games’ closing ceremony falls exactly 10 years after her life-changing operation.
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A Childhood Transformed by Pain
Gordon grew up on a small croft in Rogart in the Scottish Highlands, surrounded by sheep and horses in an active, outdoor environment. But everything changed during her first year of secondary school when she was just 12 years old.
What initially appeared as knee pain quickly escalated into something far more sinister. Initially dismissed as growing pains, the condition worsened dramatically until Gordon struggled to walk, relying on friends, crutches, and a wheelchair to navigate school.
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Doctors eventually diagnosed her with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and incurable neurological condition causing severe, long-term nerve pain.
Living Through “Barbed Wire on Fire”
The diagnosis brought some relief in understanding, but the reality was devastating. Gordon spent her teenage years in near-constant agony, enduring repeated hospital treatments and traveling regularly to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
She took massive amounts of medication and struggled to sleep. At its worst, she described the sensation as profoundly disturbing.
It felt like having barbed wire dragged across your leg, but the wire was also on fire.
The invisible nature of chronic pain added another layer of difficulty.
You can’t see chronic pain, and that made it harder. People were telling me it was in my head – that’s why I was relieved when doctors finally knew what was wrong.
Even simple activities became unbearable. Gordon was scared to go to shops because anything touching her skin caused excruciating pain—even wind against exposed skin hurt.
I was basically a zombie for 10 years.
Finding Hope in Water
Despite overwhelming challenges, Gordon discovered a vital outlet in swimming. Water allowed her to remain active when other aspects of life became restricted.
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- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Swimming also marked her first introduction to Para sport after coaches spotted her training in the Highlands. But Gordon initially struggled with the concept.
I remember thinking, ‘but I haven’t got a disability, my leg just doesn’t work’. There was nothing negative about it. I still thought my leg would get better.
The Bold Decision That Changed Everything
As years passed without improvement, Gordon began considering amputation at age 14. By 16, she told her parents she wanted the procedure.
It can’t be an easy thing to hear, but my parents were very understanding. It sounds strange, but I never saw amputation as a negative thing. To me, it was always positive.
Amputation fell outside NHS guidelines for CRPS treatment, forcing Gordon to seek private care. She found a surgeon in England and launched a crowdfunding campaign.
Support poured in from friends, family, and complete strangers. By August 2016, aged 21, Gordon had raised the £10,000 needed and underwent the operation.
Freedom From Pain
The results were immediate and transformative.
For the first time in 10 years, the pain was gone. It felt like I could breathe again. I’d taken so much medication over the years, and I found myself only needing paracetamol.
Building an Unprecedented Athletic Career
Gordon threw herself into rebuilding her life through sport. She returned to swimming at the University of Stirling, training alongside elite athletes including 2014 Commonwealth Games medallist Ross Murdoch.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
She then transitioned into Para canoeing, where she quickly established herself on the international stage. Competing for Great Britain, Gordon won medals on the World Cup circuit and at major championships, emerging as one of Britain’s leading athletes in the discipline.
At the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics, she captured silver in the Women’s Va’a Single 200m VL3 race.
But Gordon wasn’t done pushing boundaries. She switched to Nordic skiing and represented ParalympicsGB at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics, demonstrating rare versatility across both summer and winter sports.
Glasgow 2026: A Homecoming With Historic Stakes
Gordon’s latest challenge comes in Para powerlifting at Glasgow 2026—a move shaped by ambition, national pride, and perfect timing. The transition was influenced by her canoeing training, where upper-body strength is critical, and by meeting qualifying standards within the timeframe.
As soon as I saw the Commonwealth Games coming back to Scotland, I knew I had to be there – especially with the closing ceremony falling on the anniversary of my operation. I knew not trying would be a regret.
Her selection marks another milestone: Gordon will become the first female Para powerlifter to represent Team Scotland at a Commonwealth Games.
The Power of Home Crowds
Gordon was among the crowds at the 2014 Glasgow Games and remembers the electric atmosphere vividly. Competing with home support carries particular emotional weight.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
To be part of that, especially with a home crowd behind you, is something really special.
Para powerlifting will deliver the opening medal of Glasgow 2026, marking a landmark moment for Para sport visibility. Athletes will lift up to three times their body weight in a pure test of strength and precision.
A Mission Beyond Medals
Gordon now uses her platform to promote greater understanding of disability, particularly among young people. Her message extends far beyond athletic achievement.
Obviously, I want to compete, but it’s also about showing young girls that being strong is cool, and teaching children that people are different, regardless of what that looks like.
She emphasizes acceptance and representation as core values.
It’s about showing people that everyone is different, but that’s not something to be scared of. If my story can help even one person, then that’s a good job done.
Proving Her Decision Was Right
For Gordon, competing at Glasgow 2026 represents validation of the courageous choice she made a decade ago.
I want to show myself, and everybody else, that going through with it was the right thing for me. Nobody knows your own body as well as you do.
Phil Batty OBE, CEO of Glasgow 2026, captured the significance of Gordon’s journey perfectly:
Hope Gordon’s story captures the essence of what the Commonwealth Games is all about: resilience, ambition and the power of sport to change lives. To see her compete for the first medal of the Games, on a home stage, in front of a Scottish crowd, will be incredibly special. There’s no doubt she will be an inspiration to fans everywhere.
Gordon’s story reminds us that understanding our own bodies and making difficult decisions can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Her journey from crowdfunding an amputation to making Paralympic history demonstrates the transformative power of self-advocacy, resilience, and refusing to let pain define your limits.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
As she prepares to lift on home soil this summer, Gordon stands as living proof that sometimes the most unconventional path leads to the most remarkable destinations.
