Shanahan relishing home Glasgow games chance

She won bronze in the 400m individual medley and 200m backstroke at the last Games.

Katie Shanahan was just 10 years old when Glasgow last hosted the Commonwealth Games, but the Bishopbriggs swimmer now believes she could sell out Tollcross on her own.

After winning two bronze medals in Birmingham and reaching two Olympic finals in Paris, the 20-year-old will return to her home city next summer with significant backing from the stands.

"I was over the moon when I heard the Commonwealth Games were coming to Glasgow," Shanahan told BBC Radio Scotland.

"I think my mum was more excited than I was, just because she's been there throughout my whole career.

"She knows so many people that are going to come and watch me, and I know so many people too.

"In some ways, I feel like I could sell out the whole of Tollcross with just people watching me."

The University of Stirling swimmer backed up her Commonwealth success with a European silver in 2022 before placing fourth in the 200m backstroke at the World Championships the following year.

Now she is eager to replicate her success in front of a home crowd.

"It was absolutely amazing for me to get those two bronze medals in Birmingham," Shanahan continued.

"I really didn't expect that I was going to be even close to medals, so to come away with two bronzes was just really special.

"Then obviously since then, I've taken my senior career to the next level. Olympics, World Championships, Europeans. I've ticked them all off now, which is pretty amazing.

"In the next year or so, in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games, I really will be honing my training and hoping to get some more medals, but there's absolutely no pressure.

"If I come away with one, two, none, I'll be happy no matter what, because I'll be racing in front of the home crowd and in front of my friends and family.

"I'm hoping to do everyone proud and do the city proud, I'm really looking forward to it."

Shanahan will be 22 when she takes to the blocks in 2026 with only vague memories of the Scottish heroes who yielded 10 medals in the same pool 12 years prior.

"I was 10 when the 2014 Commonwealth Games were on, which is crazy to think," added the former Bishopbriggs High School pupil.

"I don't really remember much. I didn't actually go and see any of the events, but I do remember the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and I remember watching some of it on the telly.

"I do remember watching Ross Murdoch and Hannah Miley getting their gold medals, which was amazing. So hopefully, we can have the same result next year."