Ellis Kottas will compete for Team England at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, marking her debut at the prestigious multi-sport event. The 22-year-old wheelchair racer from Wimbledon is set to compete in the T53 category for the 1500m event and is expected to be in contention for medals despite having only started the sport four years ago.
A Journey Inspired by David Weir
Kottas credits her blossoming career to Paralympics legend David Weir, who inspired her to take up wheelchair racing. After suffering a spinal cord injury at the age of 17, she transitioned from competitive swimming to wheelchair racing, finding her path through the Weir-Archer Academy, established by Weir as his legacy from the 2012 Paralympic Games.
“I spent a lot of time in the hospital after the accident. My body completely changed, so I can’t use my legs. It was a struggle,” Kottas said. “I knew I wanted to get back into sport but I didn’t want to go back to swimming. I wanted to do something new, and found wheelchair racing. Without David Weir, I would not have been able to get into wheelchair racing. When I went to watch it, I just immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Support from the Academy
Kottas emphasized the importance of the Weir-Archer Academy in her recovery and development. “The academy has helped me come to terms with my spinal cord injury less than a year after my injury. It’s been so helpful not just getting into the sport but also to be surrounded by people with different disabilities, especially those who have had disabilities a lot longer than me,” she explained. “David Weir has such a wealth of knowledge as one of the greatest wheelchair racers of all time, so it’s been great. When I first started, I never dreamed of coming this far, so I saw people who made it to here.”
International Breakthrough
Kottas made her international debut in 2022 at the IOS World Games in Portugal, where she won three silver medals and a bronze. Since then, she has continued to progress, with a recent highlight being a bronze medal in the 1500m at a competition in Dubai in February. “Portugal was the first time I had done something big and international. I think that was great for starting my international career,” she said. “There are loads of different competitions at home, but something else I have enjoyed was going to Dubai in February, where I won bronze in the 1500m. That was one of the highlights of my career, to be surrounded by so many incredible people. Going with a team all the way to Dubai was really special.”
Commonwealth Games Dream
The Commonwealth Games represent the pinnacle of Kottas’ career so far, and she acknowledges the pressure that comes with the opportunity. “Getting the call saying I was representing Team England was honestly incredible. You know it’s a possibility, but until you get that call, there’s always a part of you thinking, ‘is it going to happen or not?’” she said. “I don’t think it will fully sink in until I’m actually there in the stadium. I do think about it a lot, but I’m just trying to enjoy the experience. I’m excited to be part of the team. I always love getting kit! And I also love different sports - interacting with loads of different athletes from loads of different countries.”
Team England are Ready to Win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Keep up to date on https://teamengland.org/
