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Scotland’s highly decorated judoka, Sarah Adlington, took to the tatami for the final time at Glasgow 2026 before retiring from competitive judo, bringing the curtain down on an outstanding career. Her achievements, dedication and sportsmanship have left a lasting legacy, inspiring generations of athletes across Scotland and beyond. 

Sarah leaves the sport as one of the most successful judoka to ever represent Scotland. Competing in the +78kg category for both Scotland and Great Britain, she has enjoyed success on the Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic stages while becoming a role model for countless young people. 

Her name is forever etched in Scottish sporting history following her gold medal-winning performances at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. By claiming Commonwealth titles eight years apart, Sarah became the first Scottish judoka to win two Commonwealth Games gold medals, a remarkable achievement made even more impressive by judo’s absence from the 2018 Gold Coast Games programme. Returning to Glasgow this Year, Sarah had the honour of leading Team Scotland as the Kings Baton Bearer at the Opening Ceremony before going on to compete in her third Games for Scotland.  

In 2021, Sarah fulfilled a lifelong ambition by representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games, adding an Olympic appearance to an already distinguished career that has seen her compete against the very best athletes in the world. 

While her achievements on the competition mat are extraordinary, Sarah’s influence reaches far beyond medals and titles. 

Sarah is far more than an accomplished athlete. As a coach, mentor and role model, she has a profound impact at every level of the sport, inspiring and supporting judoka within her club EdinburghJudo and across the wider community. 

Sarah has also been a powerful advocate for women and girls in sport, as a valued mentor to younger athletes. Drawing on her extensive international experience, she has supported countless judoka as they transitioned from junior to senior competition, offering guidance, encouragement and insight as they prepared for major events on the world stage. 

As Sarah steps away from competitive judo, she leaves behind a legacy defined not only by historic sporting achievements, but also by the lives she has touched throughout her career. Her impact on Scottish judo, her club, her teammates and the wider community will continue to be felt for many years to come. 

Everyone at JudoScotland would like to thank Sarah for her outstanding contribution to the sport and wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey. 

A tough final day of competition for our Scottish judoka at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, but the home crowd certainly raised the roof. The noise inside the arena was so immense it could have registered on the Richter scale. Amid the electric atmosphere, Gregor Miller delivered a captivating performance, securing an impressive fifth-place finish in the +100kg category.

In the first fight of the day, Nicole Wood (-78kg) faced India’s Ishroop Narang in a contested bout that went deep into golden score before Narang secured victory with a yuko, bringing Nicole’s first Commonwealth Games campaign to an end.

Jaden Calder was up next, facing New Zealand’s Mathew Rowley in the -100kg category on his Commonwealth Games debut. It was not to be for one of the youngest members of the team, as Rowley’s uchi-mata scored a waza-ari and secured the win.

There was no rest for the Scotland fans, as Sarah and Gregor followed on Mat 1 in quick succession. Sarah Adlington faced Marie Loanne Durhone of Mauritius, a match that went right to the wire until Marie Loanne took Sarah over for a yuko in the closing seconds of the contest. With this defeat, Sarah ends her campaign for a third Commonwealth medal and takes her last bow on the competitive tatami.

Gregor Miller faced England’s Wesley Greenidge in a Home Nations battle of the giants in the +100kg category. The tensions were high in the SEC Centre, with the Englishman dominating in the opening exchanges of the contest, before Gregor turned the tide by throwing Greenidge with a huge ippon, with the home crowd erupting in the stands.

In the quarterfinals, Gregor faced Kayhan Ozcicek-takagi from Australia, a contested match that went into golden score with two shidos a piece. In an attempt to throw his opponent, Gregor was countered, giving the Australian a waza-ari and dropping Gregor into the repechage.

Moving into the repechage he faced Gerard Takayawa of Fiji, who opened the contest by taking Gregor back for a yuko score. A score against him and the clock ticking down didn’t deter Miller, who harnessed the roar of the home crowd around him and fierce determination to come out on top, throwing his opponent with an ouchi-gari in the closing 30 seconds of the contest and securing his place in the bronze medal match.

Between Gregor and a bronze medal stood Kody Andrews of New Zealand. Andrews came ahead with a drop seoi-nage for a yuko, and despite a valiant effort to come ahead, Gregor fell short of a place on the podium. A phenomenal campaign in the +100kg category by Gregor Miller on his Games debut to close out the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in 5^th place.

As the Games draw to a close, the Scottish crowd has raised the roof, setting the stage for our judoka, who left absolutely everything on the mat.

Scott Cusack claimed a well-deserved bronze medal on Day 2 of the Judo at Glasgow 2026, capping off a determined performance and earning his place on the podium. It was a tough start for our Commonwealth Games debutants, who faced challenging draws and a series of nail-biting contests. Despite the hurdles, the team showed great resilience, with Scott’s bronze medal providing a well-deserved reward for their efforts.

The first Scottish contest of the day saw a clash between home nations, with Daniel Pacitti facing Ethan Nairne of England in the –73kg category. In a strong opening exchange, Daniel caught Nairne with a foot sweep to gain a yuko advantage, a score which Nairne soon matched with a tomoe-nage, and later followed with an osae-komi for ippon, bringing Daniel’s day to a close.

Ollie Short (-73kg) met Nauru’s Hamray Temaki in his opening match, using his newaza skills to restrict his opponent with a hold-down for ippon and progress to the quarterfinals against Joshua Green from Northern Ireland. In this high intensity match up, it was Green who came up on top, scoring for yuko and dropping Ollie into the repechage where he faced Xavion Johnson of the Bahamas. Ollie once again deployed his newaza skills in the first exchange to transition into a strangle, submitting his opponent and securing his spot in the bronze medal match.

In her Commonwealth Games debut, Sunny Doig faced Australia’s Saya Middleton in the –63kg division. Opening the contest with her signature tomoe-nage for a yuko score, Sunny brought the pressure to her opponent, however Middleton gained the advantage with a drop seoi-nage for wazari, ending Sunny’s campaign.

Sophie Wood (-63kg) faced Laurence Biron of Canada in her first contest, coming out in force with a strong series of exchanges, however it wasn’t to be as Biron caught Sophie with an o-soto-gari for yuko, which she then followed up with a sumi-gaeshi for ippon.

Scott Cusack (-90kg) began his Commonwealth Games campaign against South Africa’s Thomas-Lazlo Breytenbach, where he swiftly dispatched his opponent with a textbook tai-otoshi for ippon, much to the home crowd’s delight. In the quarterfinals, it was Noah Walliss of New Zealand who would progress to the semifinals, holding Cusack down for ippon after a yuko score to take the win, and dropping Scott into the repechage. It was a tactical battle against Karanjit Singh Maan of India in the repechage, with the match going into golden score, where Singh Maan received a third and final shido, cementing Scott’s opportunity to fight for bronze in the final block.

Moving into the final block, Ollie met Faye Njie of The Gambia in the -73kg bronze medal match, after a hard-fought 4 minutes of golden score, unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Ollie and he exited the competition in 5th place.

All eyes inside the SEC were on Scott as he stepped onto the tatami to face Australia’s Danny Vojnikovich in the -90kg bronze medal contest. In a thrilling bout that went into golden score, Scott held his nerve to make history, securing the decisive victory and claiming a Commonwealth Games bronze medal.

Tomorrow, we do it all again with Nicole Wood (-78kg), Sarah Adlington (+78kg),  Jaden Calder (-100kg) and Gregor Miller (+100kg) all taking to the tatami.

Summer Shaw claimed Scotland’s first judo medal of Glasgow 2026, securing a hard-earned bronze in the -48kg category on an exciting opening day of competition. Roared on by a passionate home crowd at the SEC Glasgow, she demonstrated resilience, determination and skill to earn her place on the podium and give Scottish supporters a moment to celebrate. Her success crowned a day of committed performances from Scotland’s judoka, who left everything on the mat in front of an electric atmosphere.

The first Scottish judoka in action was Neil MacDonald, who faced Kehinde Aremu of Nigeria in the -66kg category on Mat 1. Despite picking up two shidos, Neil showed great composure to secure victory with a superb osoto-gari to harai-goshi for ippon.

Advancing to the round of 16, he faced England’s Michael Fryer. With a yuko apiece, the contest moved into Golden Score, where a third shido brought Neil’s run to an end, ending his Commonwealth Games campaign.

Next up was fellow -66kg judoka Aiden Moffat who secured a win against Welsh judoka Joshua Bell, holding osaekomi  to claim an ippon victory. Moving into the Quarter-finals Aiden met Canada’s Julien Frascadore, lost by ippon drop seoi-nage to drop into the repechage where he faced  Australia’s Vas Middleton. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Aiden as he was thrown for Ippon during an attack attempt, meaning he finishes the day in 7^th place.

It was back-to-back action in the -48kg category for Scotland’s judoka. Eva Ewing first faced India’s Asmita Dey, where she was narrowly defeated by arm-lock. Showing great resilience, Eva bounced back in the repechage, overcoming Ashleigh Barnikle of Wales to secure her place in the bronze medal contest.

Facing Malta’s Katryna Esposito in the bronze medal contest, Eva produced a determined performance and battled hard throughout. Despite her efforts, she was narrowly denied a place on the podium, ultimately finishing in an excellent fifth place after Esposito secured victory with an armlock.

On the other side of the draw, Summer Shaw made an impressive start to her campaign, defeating Wales’ Ashleigh Barnikle by yuko in her opening contest. She carried that momentum into the semi-final, producing another determined performance before narrowly losing out to India’s Asmita Dey, who ultimately won the Gold.

Undeterred, Shaw returned for the bronze medal contest in the final block, where she faced Botswana’s Botho Babutsi. Displaying excellent determination, Shaw secured victory with a well-executed armlock, earning a Bronze medal and a well-deserved place on the podium.

Tomorrow we will back at the SEC for day 2 of judo with 5 Scottish Judoka set to take to the tatami; Sophie Wood (-63kg), Sunny Doig (-63kg), Daniel Pacitti (-73kg), Oliver Short (-73kg) and Scott Cusack (-90kg). See you there!

As our Scottish judoka prepare to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, we’d love to give the wider judo community the opportunity to get behind the team and share your messages of support. 

Whether it’s a:  

We’d love to hear from you! Simply share your message on Facebook or Instagram, tag @JudoScotland by Sunday 26th July and you could be in with a chance of winning one of three pairs of tickets to cheer on Scotland’s judoka in person throughout the Games!  

As part of this campaign, we will be sharing selected messages across JudoScotland’s social media channels and communications platforms to help show our athletes just how much support they have from the Scottish judo community. By submitting an entry, you are agreeing that JudoScotland may use your message, name and any submitted content for promotional purposes. 

To enter,  you must: 

• Submit your message by Sunday 26th July. 

• Consent to your message being shared by JudoScotland. 

• Let us know what day/days you would like to attend.  

This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire our athletes as they prepare to compete on home soil and be part of a nationwide show of support for Team Scotland. 

We can’t wait to see your messages and creativity. Let’s show our team that the Scottish judo community is behind them! 

JudoScotland is delighted to share that Judoka Sarah Adlington has been selected as King’s Baton Bearer for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, which takes place at The Hydro on 23^rd July.

The first Scottish judoka ever to win two Commonwealth Games gold medals, Sarah Adlington, and Team Scotland’s most successful athlete of all-time, Alex Marshall MBE have both been selected by their Team Scotland peers for the honour, which will see them carry Scotland’s King’s Baton and the Saltire into the iconic venue in front of a home crowd.

Adlington was part of the record medal haul at Glasgow 2014, where judo took an incredible 13 medals from 14 athletes, including six gold, two silver, and five bronze. She returned for judo’s next Games appearance, taking gold at Birmingham 2022 and claiming her place in the history books.  She will be going for an unprecedented third gold at what will be her final Games.  Her selection continues judo’s proud tradition of leading Team Scotlnd at the Games, following teammate Euan Burton, who was chosen as Scotland’s Opening Ceremony flag bearer in 2014.

Commenting on her prestigious selection,  Sarah said, “I’m incredibly honoured to have been chosen as Team Scotland’s King’s Baton Bearer alongside Alex.

“Representing Scotland has always meant so much to me, so to have the opportunity to lead this team into a home Commonwealth Games is a real privilege that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

“I’m really excited to lead the team into The Hydro tomorrow night and can’t wait to experience the atmosphere alongside my teammates ahead of what promises to be a very special Games.”

Glasgow will be an eighth Commonwealth Games for Marshall, matching the record for most Games appearances set by fellow bowler Willie Wood. Marshall first competed at Victoria 1994, and his five gold, one silver and one bronze across his previous seven Games appearances sit him top of Scotland’s all-time list. His first gold came alongside George Sneddon in the Pairs at Manchester 2002, and among his most memorable performances was double gold in the Pairs and Fours at Glasgow 2014.

Alex Marshall said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some incredible moments representing Team Scotland over the years, but leading the team into a home Commonwealth Games will rank right alongside the very best of them.

“Walking into The Hydro carrying the Saltire, with the support of a Scottish crowd behind us and my family watching on will be a truly special occasion.

“It will be an absolute privilege to lead this team out with Sarah, and I know every single one of us will give everything to bring success home for Team Scotland.”

Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss MBE, said: “We are incredibly proud to have selected Alex and Sarah to lead Team Scotland into The Hydro.

“Both have made an outstanding contribution to Scottish sport over many years, and being chosen for a home Games makes it even more special. I wish them, and their fellow athletes, every success when competing in Glasgow.”

Later this month, Takafumi Kitahara will proudly lead Team Scotland at the Home Commonwealth Games before bringing an incredible chapter in Scottish judo to a close.

This summer, Taka will return to Japan to take up an exciting new role as Performance Coach with the prestigious Japan Rail Judo Team, marking the end of almost a decade of dedicated service to judo in Scotland.

Since arriving in Scotland in 2017, Taka has become a hugely respected and valued member of our judo community. Known for his warmth, humility and exceptional technical expertise, he quickly earned the admiration of athletes, coaches and colleagues across the country.

Over the past nine years, Taka has played a significant role in the development of JudoScotland’s performance pathway. Working with athletes from Pre-Cadet through to Senior level, he has provided individualised technical support and guidance, helping countless judoka develop their skills and pursue success on the international stage.

Beyond the performance programme, Taka has made a lasting contribution to the wider organisation. From supporting events such as The Gathering to helping strengthen international relationships and welcoming Japanese athletes to the Scottish Open, his influence has extended throughout Scottish judo. His passion for sharing both judo and Japanese culture has enriched the experiences of many within our community.

Taka’s dedication, professionalism and commitment have left a lasting legacy. It is without a doubt that Taka’s dedication, expertise and commitment have had a lasting impact on athletes, coaches and the wider judo community.

It is rather fitting that Taka will lead Team Scotland’s athletes at the Home Commonwealth Games, bringing time in his role to a close.

Speaking of his time in Scotland, Taka says:

Since I moved to Scotland nine years ago, I haven’t had a single boring day. I met many people, coached many judokas, worked with many great coaches and staff, and every day was exciting. Just as Jigoro Kano tried to spread judo by flying out to the world, I also moved to Scotland from the other side of the world and brought the experience and knowledge I had cultivated as a judoka for more than 20 years to Scottish judoka. However, at the same time, I myself experienced a new aspect of judo as a judo coach, and I grew up as a judoka and as a human being.

I think this decision was one of the most difficult in my life. The opportunity to work with the JR East team and move back to Japan is very attractive and while I’m excited for my next chapter the decision to move has made me reflect on how much I like Scotland and value my time here.

I would like to say thank you for all people who I met. Thank you for all memories.

This is not “ sayonara”. I say “matane”.

As Taka takes up his exciting new opportunity in Tokyo, we look forward to continuing our relationship and strengthening links between Scotland and Japan for the benefit of our judoka.

We thank Taka for his outstanding contribution to judo in Scotland and as we wish him every success in this exciting new chapter, we extend our welcome ‘home’ to Scotland anytime.

A brief update from the JudoScotland Chair, Marc Preston, on activity in June  

June was a particularly busy month across Scotland with lots going on with clubs as they prepare for the end of the school term through to their performance athletes.  

On Tuesday 2nd the JudoScotland Board met as part of a review of the JudoScotland strategic planning processes – and how best to refine the approach we use to develop our next working plan.   My thanks go to James Allan of Windlaw Consulting who ran the session for us, as well as to all of our Board members, thank you all for your input.  I think we all agree how important it is that, going forward, we refine our strategy in what is an ever-changing landscape.   

I flew down to London on 8th June for Karen Robert’s leaving do.  I have known Karen most of my life, she was an exceptional judoka with too many great results to mention – a fantastic fighter and, over the last few years, we’ve been working very closely due to her position as British Judo Development Director.  

I’ve found Karen to be an exceptional operator who has brought many ground-breaking initiatives to the table.  For example, she was instrumental in the development of the Three Steps Safe Strategy that British Judo and the Home Nations have put at the forefront of their direction going forward.  JudoScotland wishes Karen great success in her new role and looking forward to catching up soon. 

The following day, on 9th June, I attended the British Judo Board meeting, where I presented a deep dive review of JudoScotland – our current thinking and initiatives.   My thanks go to Andrew and Gerry for this opportunity to present. It is so important that all the Home Nations are aligned, and this exercise supported this. 

You may have already picked up that we are now recruiting for my successor for the position of Chair. I am looking forward to working with the successful candidate and supporting a smooth transition through a succession plan over the coming months. Exciting times and hopefully lots of new ideas. 

Those who have completed their gradings will have noticed a new resource for the Kai grading system for our under 8 members.  My own personal experience is that children are loving the new cow/keyring/collectables.  A definite plus!   

With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games taking place later this month, June provided some exiting announcements. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the thirteen judoka who qualified for the Commonwealth Games.  I hope their training is going well and I am looking forward to catching up with them very soon in Glasgow. 

And I’d also like to congratulate the 23 Scottish Officials who have been selected to aid the smooth delivery of the Games.   

And finally I would just like to congratulate Gordon Cameron on receiving his 6th Dan.  Well done Weeg!!   Gordon and myself go back a long way to both competing at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 in New Zealand.   Where did the time go Gordon!!! 

Hope you are all having a fantastic summer and a bit more sunshine! 

Marc Preston, 7th Dan

Scotland’s next generation of sporting talent is once again in focus as the Team Scotland Achieve programme continues to nurture athletes and coaches with Commonwealth Games aspirations. 

Supported by the Team Scotland Youth Trust and sportscotland, Achieve is designed to identify and develop individuals with the potential to represent Team Scotland on the international stage. The initiative not only supports athletic performance but also equips participants with essential life skills to thrive both in and beyond sport. 

The 2026 Achieve programme is once again well represented from the Scottish Judo community. This year’s cohort includes: 

Coen Gilbert (Pro Judo)– Athlete 

Jocelyn Callaghan (Judo Club Esprit) – Young Coach 

Samuel Ingram – Mentor 

Leading the group as mentor, Samuel Ingram, a three-time Paralympian and current JudoScotland Club Support Officer, Ingram brings a wealth of elite-level knowledge and leadership as a mentor. 

Speaking about his role, Ingram said: “I’m very pleased to be involved in the Achieve programme as a mentor and to have the opportunity to support some of Scotland’s talented athletes of the future. Having benefited from the guidance of experienced athletes throughout my own journey as a judoka, I understand the value of having strong role models and support networks around you. I hope to share some of the lessons I’ve learned from competing, help participants develop both on and off the mat, and support them as they work towards achieving their ambitions.” 

The Team Scotland camp on the 1st of July provided a valuable opportunity for athletes and coaches to strengthen connections across the wider Scottish sporting community. Achieve athlete Coen enjoyed catching up with several fellow cohort members he had previously met at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), highlighting the lasting relationships that can be built through multi-sport environments. Meanwhile, coach Joss played an active role in the camp programme as a panel speaker, sharing her aspirations and experiences as she looks to progress along the performance coaching pathway. With women still under-represented in high-performance coaching roles, the opportunity for coaches like Joss to access additional support, development opportunities and networking experiences is particularly important, helping to build greater female representation and inspire the next generation of coaches. 

The impact of the programme is already evident. In 2022, judo athletes Sunny Doig and Gregor Miller, alongside coach David Scobbie, were selected as part of the Achieve cohort. Since then, their progress has underlined the programme’s value. 

Both Sunny and Gregor have gone on to secure selection for Team Scotland at this year’s Commonwealth Games, a significant milestone in their careers. Meanwhile, Scobbie has progressed into a JudoScotland Support Coach role, highlighting the programme’s dual investment in athletes and coaching talent. 

Reflecting on her experience, 2022 Achieve alumni Sunny Doig said: 

“The 2022 Achieve Programme gave me an incredible experience in a multi-sport Games environment. It was a hugely valuable opportunity, and the mentors played a pivotal role in our learning throughout the programme.” 

“My biggest takeaway from the Achieve Programme was learning how to deal with pressure. What I learned during that experience continues to shape my preparations as I get ready to step onto the tatami in Glasgow.” 

“It’s fantastic to see young judoka involved in this year’s programme and benefiting from a similar experience.” 

For emerging talents like Coen and Jocelyn, the opportunity represents more than just recognition, it is a stepping stone towards elite performance and national representation. By investing in both athletes and coaches, the programme aims to strengthen Scotland’s sporting ecosystem ahead of future Commonwealth Games cycles, ensuring sustainable success.