At 22 years old, Katie Shanahan had a choice to make. Producers from Love Island, the popular reality dating show filmed in sunny Spanish villas, had called. They wanted the Glasgow swimmer to jet off to Mallorca for a chance at finding love on television. But Shanahan had other plans.
Last year, she turned down the offer. Instead of a villa full of singletons looking for romance, she chose the calm, familiar waters of Tollcross swimming centre in her hometown. The decision paid off on Friday night, when she won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games — on the opening night of the competition.
The moment she touched the wall, Shanahan was fighting back tears. "I couldn't go on though, because of focusing on the swimming, but who knows in the future?" she told BBC Scotland News with a laugh. "I was a bit tempted but the swimming had to come first."
She is not ashamed to admit she is a huge fan of the show. "I'm the biggest Love Island fan ever, I've watched every season," Shanahan said. Producers had approached both her and English swimmer Abbie Wood about appearing on the programme, but the timing simply did not work with Shanahan's training schedule.
Her victory was especially meaningful because it came at a home Games. The support from her fellow Glaswegians, she said, felt "ramped up" compared to competitions elsewhere. Since Friday, she has been trying to keep up with congratulatory messages from friends and well-wishers. "I'm so grateful for the support," she said.
Shanahan's journey was shaped by watching others before her. She was inspired by seeing Hannah Miley compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and now she hopes to pass that feeling on to younger swimmers watching her. "I've always said that if I can inspire the next generation of athletes coming through, then my job has been done," she explained. "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."
As for a future trip to Casa Amor — the show's famous second villa where new contestants enter — Shanahan has not ruled it out entirely. But for now, she has found something just as rewarding: a silver medal and the knowledge that her choice, though difficult, led her exactly where she wanted to be.