Michelle who represents Scotland and GB in mainstream Judo has a cochlear implant. She has represented GB for the last 2 years and finished 7th at the last Youth Olympics.

At 18, Michelle has her sights set on Rio and Tokyo Olympics and would welcome the chance to represent Team GB at the Deaflympics in 2017.

In her first year in Judo (after achieving her black belt in Karate) she won the British title in 2011 and has never looked back since.

Asked about how she copes with her hearing loss during fights Michelle commented “the coaches often shout during the bouts and forget I cant hear them”. “some times the coaches forget and dont face me and it is difficult then for me to lipsync”.

Michelle, as well as karate also enjoys Ice Hockey, Ice Skating, Swimming and Field Hockey and says she had to leave Karate because “I kept getting disqualified for making contact (ooossshhhaaa)”