TV review: Cothrom Spòrs (A Sporting Chance)

She has stayed true to her principles in sport and life, winning international honours with the Scotland women's rugby team and becoming an officer with Lothian and Borders police.

The same youthful determination could be seen in the eyes of international and county cricketer Calum MacLeod and British wheelchair tennis No 1 Gordon Reid, who featured alongside MacDonald in BBC Alba's uplifting Cothrom Sprs (A Sporting Chance).

The trio of sporting prospects have flourished through commitment, sacrifice and a good deal of family support, and their tales were delivered with energy and enthusiasm that should serve them well in their careers.

MacDonald, by her own admission, finds it difficult juggling the demands of shiftwork in Edinburgh with amateur rugby. The 26-year-old said she was only pestered into the sport by a classmate at university, but quickly found herself absorbed, starting out with Lismore in the capital and now playing as hooker for Royal High Corstorphine Cougars.

Rugby came naturally to her. Talking about her crofting childhood in the Outer Hebrides, she explained: "I was a very happy little girl, running around and getting dirty!"

The cameras followed her to the back pitches at the national stadium and a clash with local rivals Murrayfield Wanderers, where she was determined to catch the eye of the watching Scotland selectors in the hope of adding to her two full caps, the first of which was awarded against Canada in 2007.

The Cougars lost the game, and MacDonald is having to settle for a place in the Scots 'A' squad just now, but she is still enjoying her rugby and life in a city which is also home to her sister Morag, the two of them having helped each other come to terms with the grief of their father's death. MacDonald put her rugby on hold to cope with the loss, but credits her family with helping to shape her as a person and a sportswoman. The Rugby World Cup this summer remains a burning ambition. "It would be excellent to be joining the team for that, so that's my goal," she said.

MacLeod, despite his tender years, has already played at World Cups, at age group level, and opened the bowling against South Africa at the Twenty20 finals at The Oval in 2009. He faced Andrew Flintoff and colleagues when England visited Scotland for a one-day international in 2008, and was alongside many of the same stars when he came on to field during the Auld Enemy's Ashes triumph at Edgbaston last summer.

But it's not all been plain sailing. After signing a pro contract with Warwickshire, he was sidelined from the sport last year when ordered to correct his bowling action – a setback the 21-year-old has handled with great maturity. The film followed MacLeod putting in extra hours in the nets and the gym, and the stage is set for him to make a big impact this coming season.

Behind MacLeod's fledgling success is another strong and supportive family, also originally from the Outer Hebrides – father Donald, a Scotsman photographer for many years, and his wife Morag, told how they braved many dreich nights to drive Calum to training, with a dedication not lost on their appreciative son.

His two brothers have also been fully behind their sibling's progression, and outwith the cricket season, the three turn out for their local hockey team, Stepps in Glasgow. Brother Alan spoke warmly of his pride at all-rounder Calum's achievements, but couldn't resist a dig from their schooldays: "When he played basketball he used to have a fan club of cheerleaders who only came to see his warm-down."

A blushing Calum denied this as a myth invented by his dad and brothers, but swiftly took sweet revenge on Alan in front of the cameras as he bowled him clean off his feet with a bodyline delivery during a bounce game of cricket in the family's back garden.

Reid's tale was one of courage and endeavour. Struck down at the age of 12 by the rare disease transverse myelitis, affecting nerves in the spinal cord, the Glaswegian's "normal life" disappeared almost overnight. Rather than dwell on his misfortune, Reid drew on all the positives, mainly the love and support of his family and friends. "It brought us all closer together," he acknowledged.

Now 18, he can walk, but not run, and relies on his wheelchair to play tennis. Intensive gym work and practice sessions have seen Gordon establish himself as British No 1, and he was part of the GB team at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008. London 2012 – and specifically gold – is his target. Like MacLeod and MacDonald, Reid has every chance of realising his dreams.