Judoka Summer Shaw, 22, made headlines after posting a TikTok video showing her returning to a shift at McDonald's just days after winning Scotland's first-ever judo medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The clip, filmed "for funsies", went viral with over a million views, prompting surprised reactions from viewers who questioned how a Commonwealth medallist could still need a part-time job. Shaw says the situation highlights the financial reality facing many elite athletes in less lucrative sports, where funding rarely covers all costs.

Shaw won bronze in the 48kg category and, through her father's side of the family, qualifies to represent Scotland. She receives an Athlete Performance Award from UK Sport and the National Lottery to cover living costs, but says this does not stretch to funding all competitions, such as an upcoming Grand Prix in Peru, which she is paying for herself. She continues to work occasional shifts at McDonald's near her family home in Surrey, describing her employer as flexible, and has also set up a GoFundMe page to help support her training as she sets her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.