Scottish judo medallist returns to McDonald’s shift after Commonwealth Games

Scottish judoka Summer Shaw returned to her shift at a McDonald's restaurant just one week after winning Scotland's first judo medal at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. A five-second video she posted on TikTok about the return to work went viral, amassing over a million views. Shaw, who won bronze in the 48kg category, said she posted the video as a joke during a break, sparking public discussion about why an athlete would return to such employment after a major games success. She told BBC Sport that achieving her childhood dream of competing and winning a medal was incredible. After returning to her family home in Surrey, she resumed the part-time job she began while studying for her A-levels. Shaw, who qualifies for Scotland through her father, has been living in Birmingham to study biology, keeping her close to the British Judo National Training Centre in Walsall. She praised McDonald's for their flexibility, noting that finding employers willing to accommodate training schedules and weekend leave is difficult. Shaw explained that part-time work is common for elite judoka, as success in the sport does not guarantee the financial stability seen in football or Formula 1. While she receives an Athlete Performance Award from UK Sport and the National Lottery to cover training and living expenses, it does not fund every competition. She personally financed a trip to a Grand Prix in Peru and is currently saving for a house. Earlier this year, she launched a GoFundMe page to support her goal of reaching the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Shaw noted that securing sponsorship would be a game-changer, allowing her to attend events not covered by British Judo funding. However, she added that she enjoys the social aspect of her job and would likely continue working there even if she secured further sponsorship.