Kirsty Law had to choose between athletics and football over a decade ago as she juggled a promising career as a goalkeeper with her talent for the throws.
The teenager with Inverness Ladies won Scotland U18 honours at football but has had no cause to regret putting all her focus on the discus shortly around that age.
Now, a decade or so later, a first GB Senior vest looms at the Euro Team Champs in Russia later this month.
Here, in a special blog post, Kirsty explains how perseverance has paid-off and while it is important for the wider public to remember that not all top-level athletes can commit all their time to sport.


‘I was very keen on football as a youngster and played as a keeper and as a midfielder for Inverness Ladies.
‘Scotland U18s called me as a goalkeeper and I loved that experience even though I was throwing at the time, as well. It came to a head around that time, though, because more often than not I was breaking a finger or hurting my wrist or ankle playing football. I had to choose sports and focus on one or the other.
‘It was a difficult choice because I love playing football so much but I was a good junior athlete, as well, and starting to make GB teams at U20 level. I also won U23 honours with GB but the selection for the Euro Team Champs is my first at Senior level.
‘I am delighted because less than two years ago I was certainly thinking over whether to carry on. 
‘I have always tended to throw great in training, throw great in warm-up and then not so well in competition. It was coming to head prior to Glasgow 2014 because I didn’t know if I would qualify.
‘Thankfully I did do so and after Hamopden I then decided to have another go for the next year.  I’ve been in America and am in the process of changing coach but this selection certainly gives me another big boost. I still want to see what I can do in the sport.
‘But I’m not a full-time athlete in the professional sense – like some who will be with me in Cheboksary. I work in nursing care and often train in the morning after completing a night-shift.
‘I missed a few calls on the day of the GB team announcement because I was sleeping after working the night before!
‘It can be tiring, yes, but I am lucky in the sense that I work for a nursing agency so I can pick and choose a wee bit. I admit that I fit the work in around the training as best I can!
‘Winning a GB senior vest is great and, as I support Inverness Caley Thistle, it has been a good few days. I wanted to be at Hampden for the Scottish Cup final but it didn’t quite work with me competing at the Bedford International Games on the Sunday.
‘I managed to persuade the bar-staff in a pub in Loughborough to put the Cup final on the TV. There was a big rugby match with Bath involved so they ended up with that on one telly and Caley Thistle v Falkirk on the other!’