New series ‘Generation Glasgow’ to follow Commonwealth contenders
As part of the celebrations to mark six-months-to-go until Glasgow 2026 we are delighted to reveal the launch of new digital-first commission – Generation Glasgow.
The series will follow a host of aspiring Glasgow 2026 athletes from across the Commonwealth as they bid to compete in the 23rd edition of the multi-sport Games.
Glasgow 2026, which will take place from 23 July until 2 August, will see around 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth Games Associations, contest 10 sports across 11 days.
The first batch of athletes revealed as part of the project includes established stars such as Saint Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred, seven-time Commonwealth gold medallist Chad Le Clos from South Africa and Scotland’s Paralympic champion Fin Graham.
Among the ‘rising star’ contingent are English history-making Artistic Gymnast Luke Whitehouse, New Zealand Boxer Jordan Wilson and Scottish Para Powerlifter Finlay Davidson.
Over the coming months Glasgow 2026 will release bespoke video features, together with written content, revealing previously untold stories behind their unique ‘paths to the podium’.
Here we take a look at first ‘Generation Glasgow’ inductees.
JULIEN ALFRED - ATHLETICS - SAINT LUCIA
The Saint Lucia star needs little introduction after Julien Alfred truly announcing herself onto the global stage with Olympic gold (100m) and silver (200m) medals at Paris 2024.
They were landmark achievements for the athletes, but perhaps even more so for her nation, with those podium finishes representing her nation’s first-ever Olympic honours.
She already has a Commonwealth medal among her collection, having placed second in the 100m at Birmingham 2022 behind legendary Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah, but has big ambitions for Glasgow 2026.
“The last time I was there (2024 World Indoors) it was very cold, so I’m hoping it will certainly be warmer in the summer,” she says with a laugh.
“I have the Olympic title, I have the World Indoors and I want to have a bunch of medals so after the silver last time, I’m definitely looking for the Commonwealth gold in Glasgow.”
CHAD LE CLOS - SWIMMING - SOUTH AFRICA
Chad Le Clos burst into global consciousness at the London 2012 Olympic Games where he delivered one of the all-time shock results by beating Michael Phelps in his favoured 200m Butterfly event.
The man, who became known as the ‘Phelps-slayer’, has gone on to become a seven-time Commonwealth gold medallist and after debuting at Delhi 2010, he’s aiming to round off his Commonwealth career in Glasgow.
The Commonwealth Games means a lot to us in South Africa,” he says. “I remember Glasgow 2014, coming two years after the London Olympics, it was a must-win for me and I remember how the crowd was just crazy.
“Seven medals, it was just perfect for me and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to cap it off because the Scottish were great and I think Glasgow 2026 will be iconic because it will also be my fifth Games!”
FINLAY DAVIDSON - PARA POWERLIFTING - SCOTLAND
‘Inspiring the next generation’ is much more than a catch-phrase for Finlay Davidson, who was once motivated by seeing the achievements of Paralympic swimming gold medallist Ellie Simmonds and multiple World Para Badminton champion Jack Shephard.
Now he aims to be the inspiration when he takes to the stage, or the platform, come Glasgow 2026.
“There really isn’t much of a para powerlifting community in Scotland; it’s pretty much just me competing at this level,” Davidson remarks. “So, to have one of the biggest Para Powerlifting competitions coming home here to Scotland is really exciting.
“Jack (Shephard) and Ellie (Simmonds) were athletes that I looked up to as a youngster, so it’s pretty cool to think that I could be that person for the next generation at these Games.”
LAKEISHA PATTERSON - PARA SWIMMING - AUSTRALIA
Two Commonwealth titles, eight Paralympic honours and a further eight World Championship medals make Lakeisha Patterson one of her nation’s most decorated Para Swimmers from the last decade and she will be looking to add to that haul all at Glasgow 2026.
Patterson started swimming at the age of three as part of her rehabilitation to overcome muscle stiffness and went on to make her Commonwealth bow at Glasgow 2014, where she claimed 100m Freestyle S8 bronze.
That became gold four years later in her homeland at Gold Coast 2018, where she also won the 50m Freestyle S8 final.
“For me the Commonwealth Games was a really pivotal event for me in terms of exposure to the movement, as Glasgow 2014 was where I made my Australian debut and it’s where I was on the team with Olympic counterparts and Paralympic superstars,” she recalls.
“I think the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be an incredible stage with such high competition standard and it will also give us a great chance to showcase what we can do as Australians as we look to build towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane 2032.”
SHANICE BECKFORD - NETBALL - JAMAICA
The word ‘legend’ is often overused in the world of sport, but Shanice Beckford is certainly a strong contender – and worthy owner – of the title given her achievements as well as long-standing commitment to Jamaica’s ‘Sunshine Girls’.
The veteran shooter is in line for a fourth Commonwealth Games where she is aiming to secure the one major medal which has eluded her to date, after bronze (2014, 2018) and silver (2022).
“When I think of Glasgow 2026, I’m thinking of excitement, fun and winning a gold,” she says while laughing.
“It really has been a journey (since Glasgow 2014), but being a ‘Sunshine Girl’ is something that we wear on our sleeve and it’s all about ‘play with pride, play with passion,’ that’s our tag slogan and I’ve loved every moment of it.”
RHIANNA PARRIS-SMITH - TRACK CYCLING - ENGLAND
Rhianna Parris-Smith was once dreaming of success on a very different type of track, with the former 100m and 200m specialist pushing for the podium as a track athlete.
A Talent ID transfer programme, Homes 2 Games, helped identify her potential on the bike and around the time of the last edition of the Commonwealth Games the English athlete made the full-time switch. Success has certainly followed.
Now, subject to selection – which she is well-placed to achieve – Parris-Smith will line up in her ‘new’ sport at Glasgow 2026.
“I’ve always said I’d love to compete in the Commonwealth Games as it comes in the same band as Olympics, Worlds and Europeans for me and to be able to ride for my country would be a real honour in any capacity,” she states.
“When I think of Glasgow 2026, I think of the atmosphere, I just know that the people of Scotland will be a great crowd, passionate and loud, but I just think it will be a great event to compete in and be at.”
LUKE WHITEHOUSE - ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS - ENGLAND
England is far from short of high-performing and awe-inspiring artistic gymnasts and Luke Whitehouse is the latest in a production-line of talent the nation has produced.
He was inspired by Britain’s greatest ever Olympic gymnast Max Whitlock, but could well be reunited with the veteran in Glasgow with Whitlock having recently ended his retirement.
Whitehouse, who is a three-time European Floor champion, excels in multiple disciplines and could be a rival for defending All Around champion, as well as countryman, Jake Jarman.
“I went to watch Glasgow 2014 with my family and then for Birmingham 2022 I was part of the ‘England Futures’ programme so after those experiences and having done all of the other majors (Olympics, Worlds and Europeans) I really want to be there this summer,” he says.
JORDAN WILSON - BOXING - NEW ZEALAND
When the last edition of the Commonwealth Games took place Jordan Wilson had only just begun boxing recreationally. Fast-forward three-and-a-half years and she is now a New Zealand international and World Championship fighter.
The transformation in her life has been dramatic, as has her body composition with Wilson happy to admit she has shed well-over a third of her body-weight since taking up the sport.
“It started just as a way to get fit and then I got the ‘bug’ for it,” she reveals.
“I’d always been a sporty person, but I moved overseas, put weight on, then Covid hit, so I started ‘box-fit’ as part of a weight-loss journey and went from 105kg to now where I’m aiming to be a Lightweight (57-60kg) boxer.”
FIN GRAHAM - PARA CYCLING - SCOTLAND
Despite being born with bilateral talipes, which left Fin Graham with no calf muscle and little to no movement in his ankles, he began his sporting journey as a mountain biker, before being inspired to take up track cycling after watching the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Scottish cyclist Fin Graham has subsequently won it all when it comes to major medals, including seven World titles and a Paralympic crown at Paris 2024, but Glasgow 2026 will give him a unique opportunity to race at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
“When I found out that it was going to be here, it became this massive target of mine to get selected and race for Scotland in Scotland,” he says.
“I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do as it’s the first time my event has been in the Commonwealth Games and to have it in my home country is the icing on the cake because it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Graham continues; “The 2023 World Championships here (in Glasgow) was so special, winning in front of a home crowd was amazing and when I got that Scottish flag from the crowd the noise just went up another level so to race for Scotland this time will be so special.”
