Adlington Eyes Historic Third Commonwealth Gold
Scottish judo athlete Sarah Adlington is aiming to secure a third Commonwealth Games gold medal at the upcoming Glasgow 2023 event, describing it as "the fairytale ending" to her distinguished career.
Adlington first claimed gold in the +78kg category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. She repeated this achievement four years later in Birmingham, becoming the first Scottish judoka to win two Commonwealth gold medals.
If successful in Glasgow this summer, she will become the first judo competitor to win three Commonwealth gold medals, further solidifying her legacy in the sport.
"I wouldn't be trying if I didn't think it was possible," Adlington told BBC Scotland.
"Whenever I speak to anyone, they are like 'Oh, three times Commonwealth Games champion, that would be brilliant' and obviously that is the dream.
"The fairytale ending would be to finish my career stood on the podium, listening to Flower of Scotland with a home crowd, with my family and friends and people from the judo club there.
"That is why I am doing what I am doing."
Sarah Adlington gave mascot Finnie a Commonwealth Games lift off
Career Highlights and Background
The Glasgow Games will mark Adlington's final competitive appearance after a career spanning two decades at the highest level.
She won her first British title in 2007 and has since accumulated numerous major championship medals. Adlington also represented Team GB at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Her journey in judo began just before her fifth birthday, sparking a lifelong passion for the sport. This passion was reinforced after she suffered a broken thumb playing football, which temporarily prevented her from practicing judo.
"I played a lot of sports when I was younger, I was an alright goalkeeper, I swam, I played hockey and I broke my thumb playing football in goals and then I couldn't do judo," Adlington recalled.
"It was one of the things where you really know what you love when you are not allowed to do it and I think that really opened my eyes.
"I remember watching the [2000] Sydney Olympics and loving the tracksuit and my mum said to me 'You could have one of them if you dig in, anything is possible'."
Targeting History
Pending selection, Adlington will become the first Scottish judoka to compete in three Commonwealth Games when she competes in Glasgow.
Her career is marked by numerous notable achievements, and she has learned to manage both successes and setbacks throughout her sporting journey.
"I try and just be me, I think you learn along the way," she said.
"I remember stepping off the mat in Birmingham and I don't even know who it was came up to me saying 'do you know what you have done, do you know what you have done?' and I was blown away.
"I don't think any Scottish woman has won three golds in separate [Commonwealth] Games since like 1970 or 1950 or something like that, so when you look at that, there is a reason for it.
"It is such a hard thing to try and do. But it is one of those, if you don't try you will never know. You only regret what you don't do."
