NI Connections

The XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will go down in history as the most successful edition for the team from Northern Ireland.

The record haul of seven gold medals overtakes the previous record that was set in Victoria, Canada in 1994. The overall medal total of 18 also surpasses the previous best of 15, achieved way back in 1986 in Edinburgh.

The team’s first gold medal was achieved by Bethany Firth in the 200m freestyle S14 class. This was Northern Ireland’s first-ever gold medal in the swimming pool and five-time Paralympic champion Firth’s first Commonwealth gold.

Medals followed in other sports. Amongst those 2018 Commonwealth champion, Rhys McClenaghan won a silver medal in the pommel horse, silver for Kate O’Connor in the women’s heptathlon and two bronze medals in judo for Nathon Burns and Yasmin Javadian.

Team NI’s gold medal count increased with victory in the men’s four lawn bowls. On a ‘Super Sunday’ the boxing team delivered a knock-out five gold medals. Dylan Eagleson, Aidan Walsh, Amy Broadhurst, Jude Gallagher and Michaela Walsh brought home gold medals.

The team’s final medal tally is seven gold, seven silver and four bronze. Medals have been achieved across seven different sports, a record for Team NI.

The XXIII Commonwealth Games will take place in Victoria, Australia in March 2026.