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Sprinter Zac Shaw inspired by mother's memory

Matt DeanEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
News imageZac Shaw A man in his twenties with a short dark beard and hair swept back, wearing a denim jacket, is pictured in a bar with a lady in her sixties with shoulder length brown hair, wearing a patterned dress, lipstick and a gold wedding ring.Zac Shaw
Zac Shaw says he lost his best friend when his mum, Evette, died in 2025

A visually impaired athlete from Grimsby says he had to rebuild his confidence after the death of his mother left him unable to run without suffering panic attacks.

Team England sprinter Zac Shaw described his mum, Evette, as his "best friend" and said her death from cancer last August had a profound impact on his preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

Shaw won a silver medal at the Birmingham Games in 2022, with his mother watching from the finish line, but said the past year had been the most difficult of his career.

"After losing Mum, I couldn't run 10 metres without suffering a panic attack. It sounds crazy, but it feels like I've had to start from scratch to get back to the start line."

News imageMATT DEAN/BBC A man in his thirties is smiling with brown eyes, a short dark beard and longer than normal dark hair swept back. He's pictured wearing a blue and white t-shirt on a sunny day in a leafy park.MATT DEAN/BBC
Zac Shaw has been preparing for the Commonwealth Games at his training base in Loughborough

The former Franklin College student said his grief made him doubt if he could compete in the Games.

"I've probably never said that before, to be honest.

"Last year, I pulled out of the World Championships. I went to San Diego and Vancouver to get away and escape.

"I thought if I can stand on the start line [at the Commonwealth Games] and be proud of that, it will be one of my biggest lifetime achievements."

Shaw said the close bond he shared with his mother had made her death particularly difficult to process.

"I don't think anything can prepare you for losing the person that brought you in to the world.

"I called her every day after training. Every time I'd compete, she'd send me a good luck message in the morning. Now I don't get that.

"It's been 11 months and it still feels like yesterday. I imagine the grief will hit me in a different way after the games."

News imageMATT DEAN/BBC A picture of a gold-coloured necklace featuring the name "Evette" is being held up to the camera.MATT DEAN/BBC
Zac Shaw will wear a necklace with the name of his late Mum, Evette, at the Commonwealth Games

Shaw, who is set to compete in his third Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in the T12 100 metres, said he would carry reminders of his mother with him when he takes to the track.

"I've got a little necklace with her name on it which I'll take with me. She bought me some charms, so I'll probably put one of those on my shoe.

"I'll do little bits to feel her with me."

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