Ten years after having her left leg amputated, Scottish athlete Hope Gordon is set to compete in para powerlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The 31-year-old's journey to the Games is remarkable not only for her athletic achievements across multiple disciplines but also for her proactive approach to managing debilitating pain.
Gordon suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) from the age of 12, a condition that caused agonizing pain in her left leg, severely impacting her ability to walk and sleep. Describing the pain as being like "barbed wire near prisons, wrapped around your leg" on a daily basis, Gordon found that traditional treatments and medications were ineffective. The chronic pain and severe sleep deprivation significantly diminished her quality of life.
After years of grappling with the condition and its limitations, Gordon decided to pursue amputation. Recognizing that this was against NHS guidelines and that she would need to fund the procedure herself, she launched a crowdfunding campaign. In 2016, she successfully raised £10,000 for the surgery. She recalled the support from donors, stating, "I was kind of overwhelmed by the support. It was a bit of an odd request on my part, but if it wasn’t for all of those random people who donated a fiver or a tenner, I don’t know how my life would have panned out."
On August 2, 2016, Gordon underwent the amputation. She was able to guide the surgeon on the precise level for the amputation, ensuring no sensitive areas were left behind, resulting in approximately 16cm of her left leg remaining. She reported immediate relief from pain and a significant improvement in her ability to sleep and move. Waking up without pain and with the ability to comfortably lie in bed marked a profound positive turning point.
Since the amputation, Gordon has pursued a diverse range of para-sports. She has competed in Paralympic canoeing, para Nordic skiing at the Winter Paralympics, and elite-level swimming. She will now make history as one of the few athletes to have competed at a Summer Paralympics, Winter Paralympics, and Commonwealth Games across different sports.
Gordon will represent Team Scotland in para powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, an event that holds personal significance as it is where she spent time in hospital during her earlier struggles. While she acknowledges the high standard of competition and her relative inexperience in para powerlifting, her focus is on participating and representing her country. She recently won gold at the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup in Montreal and secured a silver medal at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris in paracanoeing.
"The whole project has never been about getting medals, it’s about taking part and being part of Team Scotland," Gordon stated. She also highlighted the inclusive nature of the upcoming Games, which will feature six para disciplines alongside ten able-bodied sports, noting, "It’s great that girls will be watching and seeing the benefits of being strong."