With less than one month to go until competition gets underway at Glasgow 2026, excitement was building in Northern Ireland last week today as Team Northern Ireland swimmer and European Champion Danielle Hill returned to her home club to launch the Glasgow 2026 Medal Tour.  

Young swimmers from Larne Swimming Club, where Hill is a development squad coach, were among the first members of the public anywhere in the Commonwealth to experience the Glasgow 2026 medals up close, as the Games took one of its most powerful symbols directly into the community.  

The visit marked the first stop on the Glasgow 2026 Medal Tour, with the aim of bringing communities closer to the action ahead of this summer's Commonwealth Games and invite people across the UK to be part of an altogether brilliant Games.  

Hosted at Larne Leisure Centre, the event celebrated the clubs, coaches, volunteers and families who help make sporting success possible.   

Hill, who represented Team Northern Ireland at the Glasgow 2014 Games when she was just 14 years old, as well as the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, spent the evening sharing her experiences of competing on the international stage and reflecting on the role Larne Swimming Club has played in her journey.  

The centrepiece of the event were the Glasgow 2026 medals; a world-first design featuring braille and tactile elements, making inclusion something athletes can both see and feel.  

Designed by Glasgow artist Militsa (Milly) Milenkova, the medal draws inspiration from Glasgow's iconic landmarks, industrial heritage and cultural identity, serving as a symbol of the innovative and inclusive vision at the heart of Glasgow 2026.  

Speaking at the event, Danielle Hill said:  

"Standing here at the club where my swimming journey began makes this incredibly special. Every athlete's story starts somewhere and for me it started right here in Larne.  

"The Commonwealth Games has given me some of the proudest moments of my career and seeing young swimmers experience the Glasgow 2026 medal up close today has been really inspiring. Hopefully it helps them realise that the path from local club swimmer to representing Northern Ireland on the international stage is possible.  

"The Games are about so much more than medals. They're about communities, friendships and the people who support you every step of the way. That's what today has been all about."  

Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive of Glasgow 2026, said:  

"The people of Glasgow have always been at the heart of Glasgow 2026, but the spirit of Commonwealth sport is shaped by communities across the 74 nations and territories.  

"That's why we're taking the Glasgow 2026 medal on tour. We want to celebrate the clubs, coaches and volunteers who help create every brilliant sporting moment and give communities the chance to feel part of the Games before they begin.  

"Launching the Medal Tour in Northern Ireland at Larne Swimming Club, reflects the importance of local communities to the Glasgow 2026 Games. Danielle's journey perfectly demonstrates how these communities help create international athletes, and today has been a powerful reminder that every Commonwealth Games story starts somewhere.  

"The medals may be here today, but the medal moments are still to come. We hope people across Northern Ireland will join us in Glasgow this summer to witness the special moments that celebrate these athletes."  

Gillian Simpson, Chair, Larne Swimming Club, said:   

“For our swimmers, Danielle is not a visiting star, she is part of their everyday poolside life. She trains beside them, she coaches them, and she shows them through her actions what dedication, humility and hard work really look like. The young swimmers know she is in the water at 6am, putting in the same graft she asks of them, and that consistency speaks volumes.  

“Seeing her share the Glasgow 2026 medals was incredibly special, but the truth is that her impact goes far beyond moments like this. It is in the quiet guidance, the small corrections, the shared laughs and the steady presence she brings to Larne every single day. Danielle embodies the heart of this club, a place where world class ambition and genuine community spirit sit side by side and we are proud to have her shaping the next generation from the very pool where her own journey began.”  

Conal Heatley, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland, said:   

“Danielle’s leadership, the work she puts in and consistent effort is an inspiration to the whole of Team Northern Ireland and we’re delighted to have her as part of the team.   

“To physically have the medals here in Larne with kids being able to hold them, touch them, see them is just fantastic. It ramps up interest and lets people know the Games is just around the corner.   

“There are three medals in Larne Leisure Centre at the minute but hopefully come the third of August there will be an awful lot more than three heading back to Northern Ireland.”   

The Glasgow 2026 Medal Tour will visit communities across the Home Nations over the coming weeks, celebrating the stories behind sporting success and encouraging people to experience the Games for themselves.  

Glasgow 2026 will feature the largest-ever Swimming programme at a Commonwealth Games, with more para swimming disciplines than at any previous edition.  

For your chance to watch some of the best swimmers and para swimmers on the planet battle it out for medals, between 23-29 July, head to glasgow2026.com/tickets.