Scottish Paralympic swimmer Stephen Clegg won an unexpected gold medal in the men's 50m freestyle S14 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, having earlier taken silver in the 100m version of the event. The 30-year-old's victory, achieved despite recent shoulder surgery and a difficult season, took Scotland's medal tally to seven golds and 14 medals overall on day five of the 11-day Games, and came after doubts over whether he would even be competing following his procedure earlier this year.

Clegg, from Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders, clocked 24.73 seconds, half a second faster than his best time all year, beating his own Birmingham 2022 silver-medal mark from four years ago despite being in worse physical shape. He is one of three siblings with stargardt macular dystrophy who have competed at top level in swimming, alongside sister Libby, a double Paralympic champion, and brother James, who finished fourth in the same race. Clegg, who missed his sister's wedding while preparing for the Games, described being overcome with emotion on the podium as the Scottish anthem played, calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime" moment that surpassed even his double Paralympic gold in Paris in 2024.