Salmon farmer splashes out for Western Isles swimmer

Salmon producer Bakkafrost Scotland has announced financial support for Western Isles swimmer Kara Hanlon's efforts to qualify for her second Commonwealth Games.

The funding will help Hanlon, who is now based in Edinburgh, to meet the costs of her busy training schedule, including travel and associated fees.

The Stornoway-born swimmer spent her younger years training in a 12.5 metre swimming pool on the Isle of Lewis - just a quarter of the size many of her mainland peers would have been used to. However, her natural ability saw her become the first Western Isles swimmer to represent Scotland at a Commonwealth Games in 2022.

She now hopes to represent Scotland again this summer – knowing that a big home support is guaranteed at the 2026 Games in Glasgow.

Making waves

Hanlon, 28, missed out on the Olympics GB team in Paris in 2024 by just 0.06 of a second, and would achieve a couple of firsts by qualifying for Glasgow.

“If I can qualify, I will be the first swimmer from the Western Isles to represent her country at two successive Commonwealth Games and the first to perform in front of a Scottish crowd. It would be such an honour for me to be able to do that,” said the swimmer.

“I’m really proud of being from the Western Isles and I hope I can inspire others from rural communities that it is possible to dream big – even if access to facilities may not always be quite the same as for those living in the central belt.”

Ahead of Glasgow 2026, Hanlon faces a busy training and competition schedule, with tournaments in Luxembourg and Edinburgh before the crucial GB Aquatics Championships take place in London in April – a contest which will ultimately decide selection for Glasgow 2026.

Bakkafrost Scotland already has strong links with sport in the Western Isles, having sponsored the WIIGA (Western Isles Island Games Association) squad at last summer’s International Island Games in Orkney, where Hanlon won five medals, including four golds. A new partnership between the company’s flagship product Native Hebridean and the swimming team was also launched.

The company’s managing director, Ian Laister, said: “Kara is an inspirational figure for everyone in the Western Isles and we wish her the best of luck as she bids to achieve her Commonwealth Games dream.

“We understand how challenging it is for athletes to fund their training and the cost of competing and we are proud to play a part in helping Kara in her journey.”