Summer Shaw, a 22-year-old judoka, recently captured a bronze medal in the 48kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Shortly after her victory, the Scottish athlete returned to her part-time job at a McDonald’s restaurant. A short video she shared on TikTok documenting this transition went viral, highlighting the stark contrast between her elite athletic life and her everyday employment.
Shaw explained that balancing a job is common for athletes in sports like judo, where financial rewards are rarely enough to ensure long-term stability. While she receives a grant from UK Sport and the National Lottery to assist with living and training expenses, she often pays for international competitions out of her own pocket. For example, she self-funded a recent trip to a Grand Prix event in Peru.
Currently studying biology while training near the British Judo Olympic and Paralympic National Training Centre in Walsall, Shaw remains focused on her ultimate goal: competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She noted that while securing a major sponsor would be a career-defining shift, she maintains a fondness for her job at McDonald’s, where she has formed significant personal relationships. However, she admitted that additional funding would allow her to prioritize her athletic training without the constant financial pressure of funding her own competition schedule.
