2022 Commonwealth Games medallist Malin Wilson has no regrets about switching allegiances to Spain despite Ullapool athlete missing next year’s event in Glasgow
Ullapool judoka Malin Wilson says she has no regrets over switching international allegiances to Spain – despite it meaning she will not be able to compete at next summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 30-year-old won a bronze medal for Scotland at the last Commonwealths in Birmingham, but has moved to Spain to live and train.
After picking up Spanish citizenship, Wilson chose to represent her new country instead of Great Britain.
While it has opened some doors for her – like a first appearance at the European Championships later this month – it has closed others, like the chance to take to the mat in Scotland colours next summer.
Despite that, though, she is comfortable with the decision she made as it has allowed her to put down roots for an eventual life after competing.
“I’ve now been out here for five and-a-half years, and when I arrived I immediately felt like I had arrived at home,” Wilson explained.
“It was a nice feeling, a humbling feeling – almost like ‘I’ve made it’. I really liked Edinburgh when I was there for those eight years but when I arrived here I realised this was where I was meant to be.
“A year ago, on February 28, I became a Spanish citizen. It is for sport, but I am also very aware that I have no intention of going anywhere else once I eventually retire much later on.
“I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be and this is home, in and out of sport.
“It is a little bit sad (to miss the Commonwealth Games), but I’m also at peace with it.
“I did get to have that Commonwealth Games experience. It wasn’t my best, but I was seven and-a-half months out of surgery, so I did what I could.
“It was the experience that I wanted, and I won a medal, so I ticked all my boxes. Even though they weren’t the biggest, shiniest boxes, I did everything that I set for myself, so I’m at peace with that.”
Being able to settle so quickly into everyday life in Spain certainly helped make Wilson’s decision to switch allegiances easier.
She was not the only one to leave the GB programme at that time, but has landed on her feet just outside of Madrid and has been able to focus on her sport once again.
“It makes it so much easier when you feel tied to the country that you’re fighting for,” Wilson admitted.
“There have been a lot of problems with GB in the last cycle. In my weight category, and the one above, I think all together there were five of us that changed nation.
“I know one girl was basically bought by Azerbaijan. They bought her a passport, but she now doesn’t want to compete for them so she did what was left of the Games and she’ll probably change to another nationality at some point.
“She didn’t feel anything for them, which is also fine. If you are clear that what you want to be is Olympic champion, it’s not like rugby where you are part of a team that are all together and relying on each other.
“Judo is an individual sport – which you can’t do alone – so maybe who you represent isn’t the most important.
“If I had the choice, I would represent Scotland, but that’s not an option for me. I have never felt anything for GB, as much as it sounds harsh to say it.
“I have always felt Scottish, and now I feel Spanish, no matter what anyone else says.”
While her out of competition future appears to be sorted, Wilson also has a very clear structure in place for the rest of the current Olympic cycle leading up to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Past that, there is an element of seeing what the future holds – although Wilson does have one major ambition in mind for once the next Olympics are done.
“I’m planning on doing this cycle until Los Angeles in 2028, and then afterwards I would like to have a baby,” she added.
“I’m not saying that will be the end of my career, because I don’t know. My body will decide whether it is or not, but after Los Angeles I would like to have a baby, then go back to training and see how I am.
“I want to have that other part before I do anything else, just for age and timing, and then we’ll see what happens.
“I’m not saying that will be it. I have a plan that’s 100 per cent sure between now and Los Angeles, and then we’ll see what happens afterwards.”