Although a relative newcomer to the sport of Bobsleigh, the 2008/2009 season was certainly a successful first year for Gillian in the sport. After being selected for the GB 1 team to push Nicola alongside Jackie Gunn, Gillian made fantastic gains and was subsequently selected to compete in six out of the eight World Cup races, winning one silver and one bronze medal. She then went on to win a bronze medal in the European Championships and in February 2009 partnered Nicola to become the first ever British women to win the World Championships.

Gillian did come into the sport however with a wealth of previous sporting experience. Before bobsleigh Gillian’s career was centred on athletics, representing Scotland in five separate disciplines. Early successes included a 4th place finish in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Youth Games and setting a Scottish Junior pole vault record in 2001.

It was in 2002 that Gillian began making her mark at senior level setting three Scottish pole vault records in two months, culminating in selection for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Having begun training with a specialist jumps group, Gillian enjoyed unexpected success in a new event, the long jump, in 2003, gaining GB U23 selection in both events that year. In 2004 Gillian made the decision to focus on long jump and didn’t look back. 2005 saw her earn her first senior GB selection and go 3rd on the Scottish all-time list before competing in her second Commonwealth Games in March 2006 in Melbourne where she made the long jump final. Continuing to compete for both Scotland and GB, Gillian broke the Scottish indoor record in 2008 with a jump of 6m43.