Samukonga ended Zambia's 26-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal with his thrilling gold-winning run in the Men’s 400m in Birmingham, and he is eager to defend his title at the EDF Scotstoun Stadium.

"I'm more than ready. Back then I was just starting on the global stage, and god did it for me," Samukonga (pictured) said.

"I went back home with a medal and I was a champion, and I’m looking forward to doing my level best at the 2026 Commonwealth Games."

Samukonga has already shown he is no stranger to pressure, rising above the noise to chase down local favourite Matthew Hudson-Smith in the final four years ago.

Since that win, opportunities have come thick and fast back home. Samukonga has become a public speaker, mentor and influencer for the next generation of African track stars, and has been busy building Zambia's first athletics academy.

He has also powered forward on the track, claiming the Men's 400m bronze with his personal-best time of 43.74 seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games - when, just as in Glasgow, he was Zambia's flagbearer.

"It meant a lot because competing at the Olympics is not an easy thing," Samukonga, currently ranked sixth in the world, said.

"Just qualifying in itself, I gained a lot of experience. So I'm more than proud of myself – a first appearance at the Olympics and I went home with a medal."

Kerr wants to cap 'great couple of weeks'

The return of the Commonwealth Mile after a 60-year hiatus promises to be another standout moment of the Glasgow 2026 Athletics competition.

Scotland's Josh Kerr arrives as the overwhelming favourite after sensationally setting a world record for the mile at the Diamond League meeting in London earlier in July.

His time of three minutes 42.66 lopped 0.47 seconds off the previous best mark, held for 27 years by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj.

Josh Kerr of Team Scotland competes during the Men's 1500m Round 1 heats on day seven of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Photography David Ramos/Getty Images

"We ran the fast time and now it's time to race the best guys in the Commonwealth," Kerr told Glasgow 2026. "I'm not too worried about times right now, which is nice and relaxing, to be honest.

"I'm not battling machines and personalities, so it'll be a much more fun time. I think that would be one way of capping off a great couple of weeks."  

As a young athlete, Kerr was no stranger to the Glasgow track, where he tried myriad field events including Shot Put and High Jump.  

"It's going to be very nostalgic to be back and to have family in the crowd as well," the 28-year-old said.

"Back in the day they'd be there with a picnic of sandwiches, spending the whole day at Scotstoun. It's an absolute honour to go back and represent Scotland there."

Star names set to light up Scotstoun

The crowd at EDF Scotstoun Stadium are in for a rollicking six days, with star names littered throughout the 43 track and field events - not least in the Women's Pole Vault.

In Australia’s Nina Kennedy the event not only boasts the defending Commonwealth and reigning Olympic champion but also an athlete in red-hot form.

After posting a personal best of 4.95m in Monaco only a fortnight ago, the 29-year-old set out 'Project 5m' as she looks to leap ever higher on the all-time list. 

Other stars on the Scotstoun track include sprinter Shericka Jackson – part of Jamaica’s Olympic gold-medal winning women’s 4x100m relay team at Tokyo 2020 – and Kenya’s 2025 middle distance world champions Lilian Odira (800m) and Faith Cherotich (3000m steeplechase).

In the cage, the Paris 2024 and double world champion, Camryn Rogers of Canada, will defend the women’s hammer title she won four years ago. 

The big names keep coming with India's Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set to renew their long-standing rivalry in the Men’s Javelin.

Where Chopra goes Nadeem has followed.

The Indian trailblazer won Commonwealth gold in 2018 and the Olympic title three years later, before Nadeem stepped up and snatched both crowns, in 2022 and 2024 respectively.   

The Athletics, presented by Longines, begins on Monday 27 July. For the full schedule, click here.

For start lists, click here.