Kate O’Connor leads the gold medal hopes in the Northern Ireland team at the Commonwealth Games

Kate O’Connor leads the gold medal hopes in the Northern Ireland team at the Commonwealth Games, as the 65-strong delegation prepares to compete in Glasgow. The 2026 Commonwealth Games, originally scheduled to take place in Melbourne, were moved to Glasgow in 2024 due to rising costs, with the host city stepping in to host a scaled-down version featuring only 10 sports across seven venues and no athletes' village. Northern Ireland has selected athletes in nine of these sports, including boxing, swimming, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, judo, lawn bowls, netball and weightlifting. Among the standout names is Kate O’Connor, the reigning heptathlon contender aiming to secure her third consecutive Commonwealth Games medal. She will compete in the heptathlon during the athletics events, following her recent bronze finish in the pentathlon at the World Indoors in March. O’Connor, 25, from Dundalk, has already achieved success at the Commonwealth level, earning silver in Birmingham in 2022 behind Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Her mother, Valerie, was born in Portglenone, near Ballymena, adding a personal connection to the event. O’Connor will face Anna McCauley, who placed sixth in 2022 and recently secured second place in the UK Athletics Championship. Nick Griggs, competing in his first Commonwealth Games, will take part in the 5,000m race. The athlete’s preparation includes tailored training designed to simulate the demands of competing in two heptathlons within a short timeframe, though she acknowledges the challenges of replicating such conditions under competitive pressure. Rhys McClenaghan, the Olympic pommel horse champion, is set to begin his campaign in the gymnastics qualifying rounds on Friday. His performance will be followed by the final on Monday. The 27-year-old from Newtownards previously earned gold in 2018 and silver in 2022, with Glasgow marking his first major championship since the Paris Olympics. His participation highlights the continued strength of Northern Ireland’s gymnastics program. Daniel Wiffen, the Olympic 800m freestyle champion, joins the swimming team, entering three events—400m, 800m and 1,500m, starting with the 400m on Saturday. The 29-year-old, who won silver in the 1,500m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, faces familiar competition from his good friend and rival Jack McMillan, a member of Team GB’s Olympic gold-winning relay team. McMillan is entered in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events, creating an anticipated clash between the two swimmers. Also returning for a fourth Commonwealth Games is Danielle Hill, who made her debut at age 14 in 2014. Conor Ferguson, who reached two finals in 2018, is back for the 50m backstroke after missing the 2022 edition. The 26-year-old, who made his Olympic debut in Paris, adds depth to the team’s aquatic contingent. Northern Ireland’s boxing squad includes Michaela Walsh, the defending featherweight champion, seeking to retain her title after winning it in Birmingham in 2022. A two-time Olympian, Walsh also claimed silver in 2014 and 2018. With a 12-strong squad, the boxers aim to build on past successes and contribute to the team’s medal tally. In track cycling, Erin Creighton is set to compete in the scratch, points and elimination races, showcasing the breadth of talent across the Northern Ireland delegation. As the games unfold in Glasgow, the focus remains on delivering strong performances across multiple disciplines, with each athlete bringing their own history and ambitions to the competition.