Glasgow 2026 preview: Multi‑medallists headline record Para athletics programme

Four medal events will ignite the Para athletics action at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday 27 July, day one of the combined athletics-Para athletics programme. 

This year’s edition features the largest programme to date, with 16 events – eight for women and eight for men – running until 1 August at the Scotstoun Stadium. It will also include standalone events in the T20 class for intellectually impaired athletes for the first time.

Para athletics made its debut as a fully integrated sport at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002. Fans can find more information on how to watch the Games here and follow all results on the Glasgow 2026 official page.

Many athletes who usually compete together under the Great Britain flag at international events will represent their individual home nations in Glasgow. 

One of them is Ben Sandilands, who will make his Games debut right on day one for hosts Scotland. The men’s 1500m T20 reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder (3:44.90) arrives in strong form having just won the event in the London Diamond League, with fellow Scot Steven Bryce finishing second. The home crowd will also have eyes on Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist Owen Miller, giving Scotland three medal contenders in the race.

“I’m really excited. It’s my first Commonwealth Games and it’s been something I’ve been dreaming about. I’m excited to compete and want to win a medal, that would be incredible,” Sandilands said.

Birmingham 2022 marathon T54 silver medallist Sean Frame, whose event is not on this year’s programme, steps down in distance to contest the 1500m T54.

Melanie Woods (T54) and Alexander Thomson (T38) also return for their second Games. Woods will race both the 400m and 1500m after finishing fourth in the women’s 1500m T54 in Birmingham, while Thomson competes in the men’s 100m T38 on opening day.

"To have friends and family in the crowd, being close to my hometown, it's special,” Woods said.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Zac Shaw (100m)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ben Sandilands (1500m)

Victory for two Commonwealth Para Athletics stars in the London #DiamondLeague 💎

See you in Glasgow, lads! pic.twitter.com/AdtAVbfIXi

— Glasgow 2026 (@Glasgow_2026) July 18, 2026

 

England will field established international stars alongside emerging talent. Multiple gold medallists Dan Greaves, Sophie Hahn and Nathan Maguire all return seeking to add to their collections in Glasgow.

Hahn enters her third consecutive Games, having won 100m T38 gold at Gold Coast 2018 and silver in Birmingham. Greaves competes in the men’s discus F42-44/61-64, returning to Glasgow 12 years after his gold in 2014, while Maguire defends his 1500m T54 title.

They are joined by Birmingham 2022 medallists Zac Shaw (men’s 100m T12) and Danny Sidbury (men’s 1500m T54).

Thomas Young, Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist and bronze at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships in the men’s 100m T38, makes his Commonwealth Games debut.

Wales will field two defending champions. Olivia Breen faces Hahn and Australia’s Rhiannon Clarke as she attempts to retain her 100m T38 title on day, followed by Aled Davids (F42) in the men’s discus F42-44/61-64 on day three (29 July).

Davids, a four-time Paralympian since London 2012 with three golds, a silver and a bronze, plus ten world titles and a Worlds silver since Lyon 2013, returns to the city where he won Commonwealth silver in 2014. 

Harrison Walsh, Welsh bronze medallist behind Davids in Birmingham, also competes – as does Sri Lanka’s Palitha Bandara, who finished between the two in 2022.

Grimaldi and Romly debut

Outside the British nations, India will chase their first Para athletics medal since 2006, led by Soman Rana, bronze medallist in the men’s shot put F57 at the New Delhi 2025 World Championships. He will compete in the same event on 1 August, closing day of the sport.

New Zealand’s Anna Grimaldi (T47), a three-time Paralympic champion – long jump gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, in addition to 200m T47 gold at Paris 2024 – makes her Commonwealth Games debut in the women’s 100m T47. She is also a two-time World Championships bronze medallist in the event.

A two-time Paralympic and five-time world champion, Malaysia’s Abdul Latif Romly is one the biggest names at the Games, competing in the men’s long jump T20. Romly was his country’s flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony. Canada’s Noah Vucsics, the Paris 2023 Worlds silver medallist, is another strong contender.

Another Canadian hopeful is Zachary Gingras (T38), bronze medallist in the men’s 100m T38 at Birmingham 2022.

World-class athlete with a world record throw! 🔥

GAPS athlete Goodness Nwachukwu breaks the record not once, but TWICE, with a huge 36.56 in the Women's Discuss F42. Making @NigeriaOlympic proud.#CommonwealthGames | #B2022 pic.twitter.com/TxusBxpcfA

— Commonwealth Sport (@thecgf) August 4, 2022

 

Nigeria brings back both of its Birmingham 2022 gold medallists. 

Eucharia Iyiazi defends her shot put F57 title – she is a veteran with a Paralympic gold (Beijing 2008) and three additional bronzes (London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020).

Women's discus F42-44/61-64 defending champion Goodness Nwachukwu will be challenged by teammate Destiny Agbo, who became the first ever Para athletics gold medallist in Commonwealth Youth Games history by winning the discus F42-44/F61-64 at Trinidad and Tobago 2023. 

South Africa’s seven-athlete delegation includes New Delhi 2025 World Championships 400m medallists Collen Mahlalela (T47) and Sheryl James (T37), racing the men’s 100m T47 and women’s 100m and 200m T38 respectively. 

Mahlalela is coached by Olympic legend Caster Semenya, while James – also a Paralympic 400m T37 bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020 – coaches teammate Masala Makatu, who makes his Games debut in the men’s 100m T12.

Australia’s largest team

Australia’s 86-member delegation (23 Para athletes and 63 non-Para) is the largest of all nations and sports at Glasgow 2026.

Alongside Clarke defending her 100m T38 medal in her third Games, Eliza Ault-Connell (T54) aims for a fourth medal from four non-consecutive Commonwealth Games appearances (bronze in the 800m at Manchester 2002 and Melbourne 2006, and marathon silver at Gold Coast 2018).

Nathan Jason and Lexie Brown, part of the universal relay team that won bronze at the New Delhi 2025 Worlds, compete in the men’s 100m T12 and 100m T47 respectively.

Namibia’s first male athlete to win Paralympic gold (200m T11 at Rio 2016), Ananias Shikongo (T11) also races in Glasgow in the men’s 100m T12, where he won bronze at Birmingham 2022.

Complete Para athletics schedule at Glasgow 2026:

Monday, 27 July

Women’s Shot Put F57 Final

Women’s T38 100m Final

Men’s 1500m T20 Final

Men’s T38 100m Final

Tuesday, 28 July

Men's Long Jump T20 Final

Wednesday, 29 July

Women's Discus Throw F42-44/61-64 Final

Women's 1500m T54 Final

Men's 100m T47 Final

Men's Discus Throw F42-44/61-64 Final

Thursday, 30 July

Women's 100m T47 Final

Men's 100m T12 Final

Friday, 31 July

Women's Long Jump T38 Final

Saturday, 1 August
Morning

Men’s Shot Put F57 Final

Men's 1500m T54 Final

Women's 200m T38 Final

Evening

Women's 400m T54 Final