Para-swimmer Stephen Clegg has added a Commonwealth Games gold medal to his collection, achieving his best time of the year in the process. This victory, which also earns him a silver medal, brings Scotland's medal tally to seven.
Clegg's performance saw him attack the second 50 meters of the race with determination, ultimately pulling away from his competitors to finish in 24.73 seconds. This time was half a second faster than any he had achieved previously this year. The gold medal upgrades the silver he won in Birmingham during the previous Games, where he was four years younger and in less optimal physical condition.
Standing on the podium as "Flower of Scotland" played, Clegg found himself overcome with emotion. "I was really struggling to keep it together," he said, noting he had missed his sister's wedding due to his preparation for the Games. "Once the anthem started playing, I just started shaking and started to tear up a little bit."
He reflected on his coach's earlier comment, comparing him to footballer Lionel Messi, who reportedly only performs at his best during major tournaments like the World Cup. "My coach said something a bit silly earlier, which was that Lionel Messi only shows up for the World Cup, and he meant that my experience allows me to step up for these big moments when all season I've been swimming a bit crap," Clegg explained. "He will hopefully agree that I've done that tonight."
Clegg described the feeling as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, suggesting that even a gold medal at the Paris Olympics might not surpass this moment. "Every time I tried to articulate it, I've fallen short of the actual feeling," he added, emphasizing his emotional response as a testament to the significance of the achievement.