For most people, preparing to fight someone a full 60kgs heavier would be a terrifying prospect.
Gregor Miller, though, is relishing the opportunity.
Miller is part of Scotland’s 13-strong judo squad for Glasgow 2026 and is preparing to make his Commonwealth Games debut.
Until a year ago, Miller fought in the -100kgs category but having deduced that his best chance of Commonwealth Games silverware was likely in the heavier category, he and his coach decided moving up a weight could well be the most fruitful course of action. So, the 22-year-old from Tayside, who is something of a man-mountain, is now sitting at around 110kg - although he admits that upping his weight was easier said than done. And despite his considerable size, he's steeling himself to go head-to-head with men considerably heavier.
“Last year, I was fighting in a competition in the -100kgs category and I didn't have a bad day, but it definitely wasn't fantastic. And I was talking to my coach at the time, he said, 'well, the Commonwealth Games is coming up and we've already got three good fighters who could qualify in -100kgs and you're the biggest out of the three, so maybe it's worth you moving up’,” he recalls.
“So I decided going heavier was the best move for me.
“I actually struggled to get heavier because I don't naturally put on weight, so I had to stuff myself full of pies and whatnot.
"The guys in this category could weigh up to 170kgs, so they’re big but I've got to use what I've got to my advantage. I'll be quicker than them, and they tire quicker whereas I should have that endurance to keep on going.
“There’s a lot more tactics involved, at +100kgs because you've got a whole range of different of weights.”
Miller’s path to this point in his career has been far from smooth.
As an 18-year-old when he was, he recalls, in the form of his life, he broke his leg on the judo mat. Such a serious injury would be enough to put some off the sport for life but Miller moved on remarkably easily from his injury and indeed, he believes going through such a serious setback built up his resilience levels considerably.
“When I broke my leg, I missed out on some key years in my judo career,” he says.
“I was a little bit down but I was still going to the club and watching the sessions without taking part. And one of the older guys said something that's always stuck with me. He said: “if you burn yourself while making a cup of coffee, it's not like you never drink coffee again, you just get on and still have coffee next morning.' I remember that because you'll have your down moments, but you've just got to pick yourself up and move on, because the next day is not going to be the same.”
Miller is well aware the spotlight upon him and his compatriots will be significantly brighter than is the case during any other point in the judo season. But he is unfazed by the attention that’s likely to come his way, or by the pressure that comes with attempting to continue the very successful record Scottish judoka have at the Commonwealth Games.
And so, despite this being his debut Games appearance, Miller has his sights set on the top step off the podium.
“With this being a multi-sport event, there's a lot more media coverage so it’s a great platform,” he says.
“And given that, I feel like you'd be mad not to be going for gold. I think if you set your sights any lower, then your mind's in the wrong place. So my goal's definitely gold, but also just to give my best performance in the day.”
