Growing up in Ullapool, Malin’s judo journey began while attending Ullapool High School, traveling 4-5 times a week outside her hometown to train—demonstrating the dedication and challenges that rural athletes face.

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Her story is a true testament to perseverance, passion, and the power of support networks.

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Hear from Malin about joining the Rural Athlete Support Network here - 

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“I used to travel four hours for two hours training, and I wouldn’t even get home that day. I had to get the first bus from Ullapool in the morning, because if I got the later one I wouldn’t get to judo that day.

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“If I didn’t get the bus, I would hitchhike to Inverness, then I would wait all day until another girl from Inverness finished school and her dad would take us to Edinburgh. I would have to stay at theirs on the way back, somewhere between Inverness and Dingwall, and then get the morning bus back to Ullapool on the Thursday.

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“You just have to be clear in what you want to do, and if you want something, go and try it.”

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We’re proud to have Malin on board to help inspire and advocate for young athletes from rural communities.