‘Mariah Cleggy’ channels Messi to swim to gold for Scotland
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.
- Stephen Clegg won gold in the S14 50m freestyle for Scotland at Glasgow 2026
- Victory followed shoulder surgery and a tough season recovering
- Scotland's medal tally reached 14, including seven golds, by day five
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Stephen Clegg is a Scottish Paralympic swimmer from Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders who competes in freestyle events. He has stargardt macular dystrophy, a condition affecting vision, which he shares with his siblings Libby and James, both of whom are also accomplished competitive swimmers.
Clegg is one of Scotland's leading Paralympic athletes, having achieved significant success at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games where he won two gold medals. He is established as a medal contender at major international swimming competitions.
Ahead of competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Clegg faced considerable challenges. He underwent shoulder surgery earlier this year and has experienced a difficult competitive season, with questions initially raised about whether he would participate in the Games.