I turned down Love Island and won silver at the Commonwealth Games
Scottish swimmer Katie Shanahan turned down an offer to appear on Love Island last year, choosing instead to concentrate on her training, and went on to win silver in the 200m breaststroke on the opening night of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 22-year-old, born in Glasgow and based at the Tollcross swimming centre, said she and English swimmer Abbie Wood were both approached by producers but decided competing had to take priority.
Shanahan, a self-described lifelong fan of the show who has watched every series, said she has not ruled out appearing in future. Love Island, whose 2026 series concluded earlier this week, has also approached other athletes, including Northern Ireland boxers Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock, who withdrew from the process to focus on the Games. Shanahan, inspired as a child by Hannah Miley's performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, said she hopes her silver medal will similarly inspire a new generation of young swimmers, and described being touched by the support she has received since her win.
- Katie Shanahan declined Love Island to focus on swimming training
- She won silver in the 200m breaststroke at Glasgow 2026
- Says she hopes her success inspires young swimmers, as Hannah Miley did her
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Katie Shanahan is a 22-year-old Scottish swimmer from Glasgow who was offered a place on Love Island, a reality television dating show. She turned down the offer to focus on her training for the Commonwealth Games.
Shanahan won a silver medal in the 200 metres breaststroke on the opening night of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. A lifelong fan of the show who has watched every series, she has not ruled out appearing on Love Island in the future.
Love Island producers have also approached other athletes competing at the Games, including boxers from Northern Ireland, some of whom have similarly withdrawn to focus on their sport. The show concluded its 2026 series earlier this week.