Channel Islanders swim to success as Bown bags triple gold and Nowacki breaks Island Games' record
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Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Commonwealth Games star bids to emulate Scottish feat last achieved 71 years ago
After waiting eight years to defend title, Sarah Adlington eyes hat-trick at Glasgow 2026 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Sarah Adlington is already a history maker but the Scottish judo player is aiming to bow out in style at next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Edinburgh athlete wants a golden swan-song and is looking to equal a record that has stood for over 70 years. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad No Scottish woman has won three Commonwealth Games gold medals since swimmer Elenor Gordon achieved the feat in the 1950s. Adlington has two already and would dearly love to add a third next summer. Sarah Adlington, the Commonwealth Games judo champion, practises her moves on official mascot Finnie the Unicorn during a Glasgow 2026 photocall at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. | SNS Group She will be 39 by the time the Games begin and the sport has taken its toll on her body but she believes she has it in her for one last tilt at glory. A wee swan-song in Glasgow 'I'm training hard and I think it will probably be the last time I compete if I make it to Glasgow,' she said. 'And what a good way to end, to be honest.' Adlington will have to qualify - there are no free passes, even for double gold medal winners - but she is prepared to put herself through the wringer one last time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Qualification runs until the end of May but yeah, I think a wee swan-song in Glasgow, it's too good an opportunity not to.' The city holds special memories for Adlington and her sport. When Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014 the sun shone and judo basked in the glory of a golden summer. It delivered more precious metal for the host nation than any other sport, including six of Scotland's 19 gold medals. There were also two silvers and five bronzes, meaning that 13 of the 53 medals secured by the hosts in 2014 were won on the mat. 'It was all a bit of a blur,' says Adlington. 'It was just a fantastic week. The weather in Glasgow was amazing and then, as soon as you stepped outside the village, the people of Glasgow were amazing. Scotland's Sarah Adlington with her gold medal after her win in the +78kg category at Glasgow 2014. | SNS Group 'And then obviously there was the competition, and in judo we competed over the first three days and then got to enjoy Glasgow and everything about it for the rest of the time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland went judo daft 'So it was absolutely amazing. We had really successful games in Glasgow and the buzz around the team then was absolutely amazing as well.' Adlington won Scotland's penultimate judo gold of 2014, beating England's Jodie Myers in the +78kg division at the SECC. Two sisters from Lanarkshire, the Renicks, had led the way for Scotland on the mat, with Kimberley and Louise both winning gold on the first day of competition. There were triumphs too for Sarah Clark, Euan Burton and Chris Sherington and it seemed that for those three days in July, Scotland had gone judo daft, with 'Pyjama party' headlines dominating the tabloids. 'I think the team was full of world-class players that had achieved results on the world stage. So I think everyone was confident that they could go out and get a result,' said Adlington when asked to explain the extraordinary success which saw 13 of Scotland's 14-string judo team win medals. 'And then obviously the crowd of Glasgow just made it phenomenal. The Renicks sisters started us off on that first day, and then on the second day Sarah Clark won and it was fantastic. The momentum just kicked in.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Judo led the way for Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with 13 medals, including six golds. | SNS Group It was a special time for judo but they were not able to build on it at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast because the Australian hosts decided not to include it. At that point, judo was an optional sport but since 2022 it has been a core sport. It returned three years ago when Birmingham was host city and Adlington made light of the eight-year gap, defending her title by beating Tulika Maan of India in the final to become the first Scottish judoka to win two Commonwealth Games gold medals. In Birmingham, the pressure was on 'I felt the pressure in Birmingham,' she said. 'I think, because you've done it once, people just expect you to do it again. I kept saying, 'it's sport, it's judo and there's no should have, would have - anything can happen' but to come away and make history and win that second medal for Scotland….' The sentence is left unfinished and it was clearly an emotional moment for Adlington. Originally from Shrewsbury, she moved north to be part of the Judo Scotland set-up at the age of 17 and has embraced fully her adopted nation. 'I actually remember hearing Flower of Scotland more in Birmingham than I do in Glasgow because it was the first time, I think, the crowd had heard Flower of Scotland, so they were absolutely buzzing to sing it. So, standing on top of the podium in Birmingham and hearing that was pretty epic, to be honest.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sarah Adlington (in white) won gold again, beating Tulika Maan of India (in blue) in the judo +78kg final match at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. | Getty Images Adlington's longevity in such a brutally physical discipline is a testament to her determination to overcome the setbacks that inevitably present themselves in elite sport. She failed to qualify for the London Olympic Games in 2012 and missed out again in Rio four years later but she made it to the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Covid meant my body could reset 'I think a heavyweight player's experience comes into it,' she explained. 'Also, we couldn't do judo in Covid time, so that maybe gave my body a bit of a reset and I had a lot of injuries when I was young, so we learnt better how to manage my body. 'The cycle between London and Rio was terrible. I had a couple of operations, a couple of bad knee injuries, so I think, after that, we learnt that we had to manage my body and I guess that's why I'm still standing here today.' She's the last judoka still competing from the golden generation of 2014 and now hopes for a final fling in Glasgow and the opportunity to emulate Elenor Gordon, the only Scottish female athlete to win three golds. The Hamilton swimmer's medals came when it was still known as the Empire Games, with success in the 220-yard breaststroke in 1950 and 1954 and also a relay triumph in '54. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Adlington's Commonwealth victories in 2014 and 2022 have already secured her place in the history books, regardless of what happens in Glasgow next summer.
The Herald Scotland
20 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Games budget of £150m is 'direct investment into city'
Here, he outlines the passion and purpose behind the games in our Q&A. Name: Phil Batty OBE What is your business called? Glasgow 2026 Where is it based? Glasgow, Scotland What does it do? Next year, the Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow and it's great to be back. Taking place from July 23 to August 2, the Games will feature 10 sports, six para sports, with over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories set to compete. Led by Chair George Black CBE, an independent Board and Chief Executive Officer, and myself, Glasgow 2026 Limited is the Organising Company (OC) which will deliver the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer. Agile, innovative and embracing a new delivery model, the OC is working in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and Commonwealth Games Scotland to stage the Games. The company, based in the city centre, will directly employ around 160 people and, at its heart, is a team of specialists with world-leading major event experience and sporting expertise, coupled with in-depth city knowledge. The OC will work with an ecosystem of experienced suppliers to deliver the Games safely and in record time. The OC is privately funded, securing its income through Commonwealth Sport, corporate sponsorship, broadcast rights, global partnerships and ticket sales. READ MORE: To whom does it sell? Building on the success of 2014, Glasgow 2026 is set to reimagine the Games you know and love – with a different, and altogether unique, 'Clyde-built' experience that embodies the city's vibrant spirit, ingenuity and passion. A new model that combines world-class sport with a future-focused, sustainable, accessible and inclusive vision, setting a new standard for major sporting events – flexible and forward-thinking, whilst deeply connected to the place and the people hosting. Glasgow 2026 will bring fans closer to the action – immersing athletes, spectators and locals in the city, the competition and the celebrations. Maximising economic and social benefits to create a new legacy for both Glasgow and the Commonwealth. There will be 500,000 tickets available, which will go on sale later this year. We will also start recruitment for more than 3,000 Games volunteers in September. As an OC our role is to create an electric atmosphere across four sports venues packed with athletes and spectators, of sporting fans and new Games audiences, to secure public support for the Games through inspiring engagement programmes, powered by the people who make Glasgow, and to showcase a city that is connected, energised and ready to gather the world. What is its turnover? The OC is privately funded, securing our income through Commonwealth Sport, corporate sponsorship, broadcast rights, global partnerships and ticket sales. Our budget for the delivery of the Games is projected to be £150 million which is direct investment into the city of Glasgow. How many employees? We currently employ 68 people in our city centre office on Bothwell Street. We will grow to nearly 200 employees and then will be joined by a workforce of thousands for Games time. Why did you take the plunge? We are building on the huge success of Glasgow's time hosting the Games in 2014. I was fortunate to be part of the organisation responsible for organising the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and when I heard the news that the Games were coming back to the UK, I just had to be part of it. Having seen first-hand the powerful role of sport in bringing communities together and strengthening international collaboration across the Commonwealth, I saw this as an incredible opportunity to get involved. Glasgow is world-leading the major events industry and I was excited to learn from all that experience and become part of an incredible moment for Scotland. What were you doing before? Following my time in Birmingham, I joined a pioneering drone light show company called SKYMAGIC. We staged spectacular aerial displays all over the world. My career has always been in major events, from the UK City of Culture project in Hull to being part of the Women of the World festivals movement. This is a hugely inspiring industry, where no two days are the same and nothing is impossible. What do you least enjoy? Major events only happen every few years, so in this role you have to be open-minded to adapting and turning your hand to a wide range of events. Each project is unique and there are different challenges to be tackled. I am lucky to be working on my second Commonwealth Games, which is allowing me to apply the learning from Birmingham to the project this time around. What are your ambitions for the firm? I am keen to create an Organising Company that is inclusive, prioritises sustainability and that also can work at incredible pace to deliver this large-scale event. My ambition is to do the city of Glasgow and the people of Scotland proud in staging a Commonwealth Games that everyone can be a part of. What single thing would most help? Major events can only be delivered in partnership. We are already working with incredible venues run by the SEC and Glasgow Life, we have incredible suppliers, but we will always need more partners. Whether that is to deliver the Games or to sponsor and support the project. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned? That nothing is impossible with the right people around you. Hire a team of individuals who challenge you to think differently, who are brave enough to solve the difficult tasks and who you enjoy working with. Work should interrupt play and play should interrupt work. We are part of major events because they are fun, they make us smile and we have a great time doing it. What was your best moment? Seeing Ozzy Osbourne perform in his hometown at the Closing Ceremony of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was a hugely inspirational moment. The sadness of hearing of his passing last week reminded me of the huge joy and passion he brought to thousands of people that night and the millions watching across the world. It is moments like this that live on in your memory, and events have the power to create those magical moments. What was your worst moment? For a show last January, I had to shut down an international airport runway in the early hours of the morning to create an aerial display with 1,750 drones. Being stood on the tarmac with planes moving around me, in the dead night, having to navigate global air traffic was terrifying. However, we had faith and worked with all our partners and minutes later we had the runway clear and a show in the air. How do you relax? I enjoy going to discover new places in a city, from the bars and restaurants to the galleries and parks. The world is full of hidden gems, and I enjoy the adventure of finding something new.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Maeve Kyle, pioneering Olympian who inspired a generation of Irish women to follow in her footsteps
Kyle, who died this week at the age of 96, was a coach, administrator and international team manager, as well as a mentor to so many, both on and off the track. In the seven decades since the 1956 Melbourne Games, many Irish women have donned the green vest on the Olympic stage, but Kyle was the first to do so in athletics, carving a path where none had existed, leaving a trail that so many would follow. As Athletics Ireland stated in its tribute, Kyle was 'a true pioneer of Irish sport and one of our most iconic and inspirational athletes'. Born in Kilkenny in 1928, Kyle (nee Shankey) studied at Alexandra College and Trinity College in Dublin but lived most of her adult life in Co Antrim, settling in Ballymena with her husband Sean. In 1955, they founded Ballymena and Antrim Athletics Club, where she continued to coach well into her 80s. Hockey Ireland described her as a 'standout figure' who earned 46 international caps and a place on the World All-Star team in 1953 and 1959. Kyle also competed in tennis, swimming, sailing and cricket, but she was most renowned for her feats on the track. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the 1960 Games in Rome, she raced in the 100m and 200m, while at Tokyo in 1964, she competed in the 400m and 800m. In 1966, Kyle won 400m bronze at the European Indoors in Dortmund. To truly appreciate her legacy, it's crucial to understand the battle she faced just to make the start line. Ireland was a very different place during her career, with Kyle telling the Irish Independent in 2013 that female athletes were viewed similar 'to how the Taliban view Muslim women'. Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid had stated that women who sought to compete in the vicinity of men were 'un-Irish and un-Catholic'. Kyle rebelled against such archaic beliefs, with long-time Irish athletics team manager Patsy McGonagle telling Donegal Live that she 'wasn't afraid of going to war: I remember her going to the door of the Bishop's Palace and tackling [McQuaid], who wouldn't let women take part in nationals'. The Irish star of the Melbourne Games was Ronnie Delany, who won 1500m gold, and he had a lifelong friendship with Kyle, writing the foreword to The Remarkable Kyles, a book about her and Sean. 'I admire Maeve greatly, because of her contribution to sport close on six decades,' Delany wrote. 'Her own achievements are well-chronicled, but what isn't known is the enormous respect people like me hold for Maeve and how we appreciate her in person to this very day. What a wonderful contribution she made to sport.' Kyle was a life vice-president of Athletics Ireland and president of the Northern Ireland Athletic Federation in an era when female sports administrators were especially rare. As former Athletics Ireland president Liam Hennessy said, she and Sean were 'so incredibly enthusiastic, so articulate and they covered every aspect of the sport'. Maeve Kyle played a pivotal role in the area during the Troubles. 'She reached out to everybody,' John Stuart, president of Ballymena and Antrim AC, said. 'There were no boundaries whatsoever. The coaches and community in Ballymena will never forget her, and they will ensure her work will be an encouragement to young people in the future.' At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Kyle shared breakfast with an 18-year-old US boxer, Cassius Clay, four years before he became Muhammad Ali. She described him as a 'lovely guy' and in the decades that followed, she developed her own iconic status in her sport, returning to the Olympics in Sydney 2000 as an Irish team coach, passing on lessons she had learned across a lifetime in sport. Maeve Kyle is predeceased by her husband Sean and is survived by her daughter Shauna.
