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I turned down Love Island and won silver at the Commonwealth Games

Swimmer Katie Shanahan turned down an offer to appear on Love Island to focus on swimming, and then won silver in the 200m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games.

·3 min read
The swimmer Katie Shanahan holding her silver Commonwealth Games medal in front of the pool. She has blond hair, is grinning with delight and is wearing a white and blue athletic/tracksuit top.

Katie Shanahan claimed silver in the 200m breaststroke on the opening night of the Games. The 22-year-old swimmer said she had been offered the chance to appear on Love Island last year, but turned it down to focus on her sport at the Tollcross swimming centre.

In another reality, swimmer Katie Shanahan might have been looking for love on her favourite TV show - but instead made a decision that would lead her to a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.

The Glasgow-born swimmer told BBC Scotland News she was offered the chance to appear on Love Island last year, the reality dating show where singletons are placed in a Spanish villa. However, she chose not to take up the offer of sunshine in Mallorca, deciding instead to concentrate on swimming.

Last Friday she claimed silver in the 200m breaststroke on the opening night of the Games.

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Despite her sporting success, she says would not be averse to a trip to Casa Amor in the future.

I'm the biggest Love Island fan ever, I've watched every season
Last year the producers asked me and Abbie Wood [the English swimmer] if we would be interested in doing it.
I couldn't go on though, because of focusing on the swimming, but who knows in the future? I was a bit tempted but the swimming had to come first.

Love Island, which concluded its 2026 series earlier this week, has aimed to attract a number of athletes to the programme. Northern Ireland boxers Jon McConnell and Kaci Rock progressed through initial auditions for the show, but then had to drop out to focus on their sport as the Games drew closer. A number of lower league and non-league footballers have also appeared on the often controversial dating show over the years.

Shanahan has been inundated with well-wishings since her performance on Friday.

Katie Shanahan, wearing a blue swimming costume, dives into the pool during a race at the Commonwealth Games.
Image caption, Shanahan has been inundated with well-wishings since her performance on Friday

However Shanahan's decision paid off in the pool, and she was seen fighting back tears after securing silver on Friday night. Having been inspired by seeing Hannah Miley in action at the 2014 Games, Shanahan told BBC Scotland News she hoped future generations might have be likewise inspired by watching her in the pool this time around.

I've always said that if I can inspire the next generation of athletes coming through, then my job has been done
I know after 2014 watching Hannah I felt inspired, and it would be nice to think that maybe there's some younger girls watching the 200m backstroke this time, and maybe they'll get into swimming from it.

She joked that the main problem since last Friday was finding the time to get back to various friends and well-wishers sending her messages to congratulate her.

I'm so grateful for the support, and with it being a home Games it feels like that support has been ramped up a bit, which is so nice to experience.

This article was sourced from bbc

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