Commonwealth Games Day 1 review: Scots poster boy delivers and subdued artistic gymnastics final
Here is your comprehensive round-up on Day 1 of the Commonwealth Games...
Following on from last night’s dramatic Opening Ceremony, the opening day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow featured 14 gold medals - with Team Scotland tasting success in the pool.
Some of the best athletes on the planet have descended on the city to compete in 10 different sports comprising; Athletics and Para-athletics (track and field), Swimming and Para-swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track cycling and Para-track cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para-powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para-Bowls, 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.
There was plenty of action to get stuck into and here is your comprehensive round-up on Day 1 of the Commonwealth Games...
English powerlifter wins first medal of Glasgow 2026
England's Mark Swan won the first gold medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in the most dramatic of circumstances in the Men's Lightweight category of Para Powerlifting at the SEC Armadillo, while Nigeria took gold and silver in the women's event.
Swan lifted more than three times his body weight to post a personal best of 222kg on his second attempt, and was seemingly tied for gold with Nigerian veteran Roland Ezuruike on 153.9 points going into the final round.
But after both athletes failed on their final lift, the scores remained level and confusion reigned until Swan was announced as the winner.
The Men's Lightweight category pulled in athletes with a body weight up to and including 72kg. A coefficient formula was used to score lifts fairly against the athletes' individual body weight, and Swan was ultimately handed the gold by virtue of the second decimal point in the scoring, which was not visible on the results screen.
Home favourite Finlay Davidson did all he could to raise the roof, placing fifth overall after topping group B with a best lift of 166kg.
In the later women's category, Esther Nworgu won with a Games record score of 119 points.
Lifters were roared on by an enthusiastic crowd who had themselves been energised by Scottish actor Sam Heughan hitting the venue DJ decks during the build-up.
Duncan Scott delights home crowd in the pool to deliver first hosts’ gold
Fan favourite and competition poster boy Duncan Scott OBE broke a Games record when he won Scotland's first gold medal the Men's 200m Individual Medley with a time of 1:56.38 this evening.
It's an encouraging start to the Scot's performance in his home country, as the swimmer is considered to be Scotland's most successful Commonwealth Games athlete. Now with Glasgow 2026 featuring the largest ever Swimming programme at the Games, many hope that the 29-year-old will bring home more silverware for the host country.
Scott cut an emotional figure during the medal ceremony as a spine-tingling rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland’ was sang across the pool adorned with Scottish saltires.
Canada win men's team gold in subdued artistic gymnastics final
The artistic gymnastics medal events got off to a subdued start at the Glasgow International Arena as Canada won the men's team title with a score of 241.400, with defending champions England finishing second and Scotland narrowly missing out on a podium finish in fourth place.
However, the a sickening injury to 19-year-old Gabriel Langton led to a delay in the final rotation.
Australia set the early pace in 3x3 Basketball
Australia’s men and women each made a perfect start to their 3x3 Basketball campaign, reeling off three straight wins on the first day of competition at the SEC Centre.
The men’s quartet rounded off a satisfying start for the 2022 silver medallists with a 21-14 victory over hosts Scotland, who had won their first two matches.
Australia earlier edged an opening trans-Tasman tussle with New Zealand 21-15 and overcome Nigeria by the same score.
Australia’s women, bronze medallists at Birmingham 2022, also started impressively, beating Kenya 21-5 and overcoming Jamaica 21-13 before concluding the evening session with a comfortable 21-3 win over Fiji.