NI’s Olympic champions struggle on medal-less Monday
Northern Ireland's two reigning Olympic champions both fell short of the podium at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, in what had been billed as a potential day of gold for the team. Pommel horse specialist Rhys McClenaghan finished sixth in his final, while swimmer Daniel Wiffen came fourth in the 800m freestyle, with both admitting to feeling "rusty" after injury-hit years away from top-level competition. The results matter because they were seen as the athletes most likely to deliver Northern Ireland's first gold medals of the Games, given their Paris 2024 triumphs.
McClenaghan, who missed all of 2025 after shoulder surgery, started slowly on a new routine and got worse as it went on, though he remained upbeat, framing the result as a step towards defending his Olympic title. Wiffen, recovering from appendicitis last year, was beaten into fourth by a dominant Australian trio and swam 7:48.82, well outside the 7:42 he had targeted, describing his stroke as "all over the place". Both are using 2026 as a rebuilding year ahead of the next Olympics, with McClenaghan next competing at the Europeans in August and Wiffen getting a quicker chance to bounce back in Wednesday's 1500m final.
- McClenaghan (6th) and Wiffen (4th) missed the podium in Glasgow
- Both cite injury lay-offs and feeling "rusty" after 2025 setbacks
- Wiffen eyes redemption in Wednesday's 1500m freestyle final
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Northern Ireland's two highest-profile athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow both failed to medal in their events this week. Rhys McClenaghan won Olympic gold in the pommel horse at Paris 2024, and Daniel Wiffen took swimming gold at the same Games, but neither could replicate that form in their Commonwealth finals.
The results mattered because both had been considered Northern Ireland's best prospects for gold at the Glasgow event, with the team struggling to produce medals overall. Both athletes had experienced significant injury disruptions over the past year or more: McClenaghan did not compete at all in 2025 whilst recovering from shoulder surgery, and Wiffen was affected by appendicitis.
Both are treating their performances as part of a longer rebuilding process towards the next Olympics rather than permanent setbacks. McClenaghan will next compete at the European championships in August, whilst Wiffen has another chance to test his form in Wednesday's 1500 metres final.