MOMENT OF TOOTH
Gordon dropped dental job to go for gold
Megan Gordon didn’t start let alone finish the first day in her new job.
Now she’s determined to go the distance on the stage she swapped it for.
The boxer was set to start as a dental nurse this year having thought her Commonwealth Games dream was dead.
But the news of a call-up, less than 48 hours before starting out, saw her embark on a quick change of uniforms – plus an awkward phone call to say she’d need three months off the day before she’d even begun.
Gordon, 18, last year became Scotland’s first female boxer at a Commonwealths when she made the Youth Games.
The Rothes fighter returned from the Bahamas with bronze but she’s fixed on grabbing gold on the Gold Coast.
Gordon, who will drop to the 48kg category, said: “I worked at the Station Hotel in Rothes, but ended up leaving there when I was told I didn’t make the first team selection.
“I then got a job as a dental nurse but had to quit the day before I started – obviously it looks really good!
“My emotions were a state for a month before that, I didn’t know what to do.
“I didn’t expect to go to the Games, that’s why I went for the job. I knew there was a second picking but I didn’t really know what the chances were so I put it behind me.
“I had picked up my uniform ready to start and got my false eyelashes in. Then the same day I got the phone call saying I was going to Australia so two days later I got booked in to take the eyelashes out for sparring!
“Work were really supportive. I knew as soon as I got the call I couldn’t throw it away.”
That was only reinforced by the fact she’d hauled her way back from a broken hand she suffered just six months ago. She said: “I was out in the camp for the selection and I’d only had one pad session before I was put in open sparring.
“I didn’t have high hopes because when you’ve had nine weeks out and go back in, it’s like starting all over again.
“But I feel so ready now. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring back another medal.
“I got a bronze in the Youth Games but I want to change the colour and get gold.”
Gordon only started boxing after watching a boy her own age fighting at her dad’s club then pestering him to let her do likewise. Six years on, the Scottish Youth Champion – who is coached by her dad Paul – admits she relishes changing perceptions of the sport.
Gordon, nicknamed “Princess Meg”, said: “I am still quite girly. I can still enjoy the face pack, the sunbed and nails.
“You do think of female boxers – even I did when I was younger – as butch and manly-looking but I believe showing you can do both is the best.
“This is the first time 48kg is in the Games and last year I was the first Scottish female to box for my country so it shows there are more chances. Scotland is doing so much more for or females who are boxing and there are more opportunities for the young girls coming in.
“When I was getting into it I was constantly having to travel with dad to Ireland, England, just to get bouts whereas now you can see them getting them locally, which is so much better.
“When I first started I was 56 kilos and I dropped down to 48 so I dropped quite a bit of weight – I was quite a fat kid.
“My first exhibition was against a girl who tipped the scales at 75 kilos – I was absolutely crapping myself.”