Scotland win three medals in 45 minutes to kick-start Glasgow 2026

Scotland opened the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with three medals in just 45 minutes of competition at the Tollcross pool. Duncan Scott began the session by defending his 200m individual medley title from Birmingham 2022, lowering his own Games record in the process. Para‑swimmer Stephen Clegg followed with a silver in the S13 100m freestyle, finishing behind the winner while teammate James placed fourth, after overcoming an injury‑plagued year. Katie Shanahan turned her 2022 bronze into a silver in the 200m backstroke. After the early excitement settled, Faye Rogers ignited the crowd with a commanding gold in the women’s 200m individual medley SM10. All of the action took place in the same Tollcross venue where a 29‑year‑old Scott claimed the first of his current 14 Commonwealth medals back in 2014, when he was only 17. Scotland’s most decorated Games athlete, now a seasoned competitor, was under pressure to deliver a first rendition of “Flower of Scotland” at this edition, and he did so with a powerful backstroke‑breaststroke‑freestyle finish. From the telephone room, Clegg admitted he had doubted his participation over the past twelve months, fearing his career might be over, but he made it to Glasgow and added another silver to the one he won in the 50m freestyle four years earlier. Shanahan, who arrived in Glasgow with two unexpected bronzes from Birmingham, saw her silver represent an upgrade for an athlete who has endured difficult months. Her teammate Holly McGill narrowly missed a podium finish, coming fourth. The home crowd’s enthusiasm, already high after the early medals, was further lifted when Rogers delivered one of the standout performances of the night, securing Scotland’s second gold and prompting a second playing of the anthem.