Elite Athletes to Share Epilepsy Experiences Ahead of Glasgow 2026 Games
In a groundbreaking initiative, star athletes with epilepsy will participate in a "world-first" panel discussion about living with the condition in elite sport, hosted by Epilepsy Scotland ahead of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The event, scheduled for May 19 at 200 SVS Conference & Events in Glasgow, will feature Commonwealth Games judo silver medallist Stephanie Inglis, World, European and Commonwealth 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene, four-time world-record-holding ultra-cyclist Katie Ford, and elite triathlete Annie Brooks, all of whom have epilepsy.
Breaking Barriers in Elite Sport
This pioneering panel is said to be the first event of its kind to focus specifically on epilepsy in the context of non-para elite competition. It forms part of the All In for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games programme, a Scotland-wide call to action inviting cultural and voluntary organisations, communities, sports clubs, schools and businesses to celebrate the Games and create inclusive local activity. The discussion will be hosted by former professional basketball player Kieron Achara and will launch Epilepsy Scotland's new national speaker series, Breaking Barriers.
Lesslie Young OBE, chief executive of Epilepsy Scotland, emphasised the significance of this opportunity: "Glasgow 2026's All In programme gives us a genuinely high-profile opportunity to talk about epilepsy in a way elite sport rarely does. We're proud to partner with Glasgow 2026 to put lived experience and practical reality at the centre of the conversation, not as an add-on, but as part of what inclusion in sport should mean."
Increasing Understanding and Visibility
Epilepsy affects approximately one in 100 people in Scotland, yet the condition remains widely misunderstood according to Epilepsy Scotland. The organisation hopes this panel discussion will increase understanding of what genuine inclusion looks like in elite sport. Young added: "This panel is an exciting step forward for visibility, understanding and ambition, and we hope it helps more people recognise that epilepsy can be part of an elite athlete's story."
Triathlete Annie Brooks shared her personal perspective: "As someone living with epilepsy, I know first-hand how invisible and misunderstood the condition can be – especially in sport. I went years without a diagnosis, and now I've gone on to compete in endurance events I never thought possible. Being part of this world-first panel with Epilepsy Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is about showing that epilepsy doesn't have to hold athletes back – and making sure no one feels alone in their journey."
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Context
The Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, 2026 – twelve years after the city last hosted the event in 2014. More than 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete across 10 sports and six Para sports. The athletes participating in the epilepsy panel will discuss what it takes to travel, train and compete at the highest levels of international sport while living with epilepsy, providing unique insights into the challenges and triumphs of managing the condition alongside elite athletic performance.
This initiative represents a significant step toward greater awareness and inclusion in sports, demonstrating that neurological conditions need not be barriers to athletic excellence. By sharing their experiences, these elite athletes aim to inspire others with epilepsy and promote better understanding within the sporting community and beyond.
