The 21-year-old (pictured) dedicated his late teenage years to learning his trade in social isolation away from his parents and friends, with just his coach for company, but the resilience he has developed shone through as he beat Australia's Kayhan Ozcicek-Takagi with a waza-ari to win the Men’s +100kg, the last final at the SEC Centre on Sunday

“I took so many things from that - it shaped me,” he said. “There were so many difficulties, not knowing the language, living alone. But everything I went through brought me here today and now I know it was all worth it.

“Since I was young, I was dreaming to be different and today I made the difference for my country. I feel really proud but it's not only about the medal.

“Everything I do is for my sport, and I am so happy I made my family proud, my father, my mother, these people I don't live with. We sacrifice so many things and they dedicate their lives to me. This is not for me, it's for them.”

Cyprus also earned two more bronze medals on the final day of competition inside Hall 4 - for Zanet Michaelidou in the Women’s -78kg and Georgios Kroussaniotakis in the Men’s -100kg - to take their overall tally to seven, the same as Canada.

The Canadians won their fourth Judo gold as Kyle Reyes, 32, upgraded his silver from Birmingham 2022 to gold in the Men’s -100kg, despite having back surgery in the intervening years.

“My back was very bad and I'm quite old for a judoka, so I did think about quitting,” said Reyes, who lives and trains in Japan.

“But I still felt like I had something to prove, and that's why I came back and kept trying. This is a big step for me today.”

Canada were ultimately pipped in the Judo medal table by England, who earned their fourth gold via Emma Reid, who successfully defended her title in the Women’s -78kg category despite going behind early on to Maria Swan of Australia.

“I just didn’t want to disappoint myself,” said the 31-year-old. “With this one all I wanted was gold, silver wasn’t good enough, so it was a lot of pressure through the day.

“In my first fight I tapped out and let go, but I wasn’t going to let go in this one.”

New Zealand had endured a frustrating time on the tatami until Sunday but a gold and bronze medal from the same family meant the competition ended on a high.

Sydnee Andrews, a bronze medallist four years ago, won the Women’s +78kg with a stunning Ippon to beat Cameroon's Richelle Anita Soppi Mbella to gold.

“I feel like I'm on top of the moon, honestly,” said the 23-year-old. “I went out in the first round at the Olympics in Paris, but that just made me want to push harder in training.

“A few months ago I picked up an injury so I wasn't even sure I'd be able to compete here, but thankfully everything came good in time. I lost my grandmother back in February, so this medal is for her.”

With her parents and sister in attendance, Andrews’ elder brother Kody took bronze in the Men’s +100kg.

After 16 nations won Judo medals in 2022, that number rose to 18 in Glasgow as Gabon, Bahamas and Tonga all made the podium on the final day.

“There aren't that many Tongan kids out there who do judo, so I did it because I wanted to be different,” said Paula Monta, who won bronze in the Men’s +100kg.

“Rugby was always there for me, but I wanted to open a new door for Tongan kids back home, so they can see that judo can be another path for them.”