English strongman Mark Swan has been left celebrating the first gold medal of the 23rd Commonwealth Games - and he had absolutely no idea that he'd won it.
Or how he'd won it.
The 25-year-old, who was born with dwarfism, went through the full gamut of emotions in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Glasgow's SEC Armadillo Arena, thinking he'd struck gold in the lightweight para powerlifting category with a winning lift, then being told he'd failed to complete it.
Gloomily convinced then that he'd ended up with the bronze, he only learned in the back room that he'd actually landed the gold.
GOLD! 🥇🏴
— Glasgow 2026 (@Glasgow_2026) July 24, 2026
Mark Swan wins the FIRST GOLD MEDAL of Glasgow 2026 in the Men's Lightweight Para Powerlifting pic.twitter.com/TTNCymTeDx
"The wait was horrible. I actually thought I got third – I didn't realise I had won," beamed the 2024 Paralympics silver medallist.
"They had put the bar at the weight (a world record-equalling 232kg) that I needed to win, so when I didn't make it, it later took me by massive surprise that I'd actually won!"
Even 90 minutes after the event, he was still in the dark about how he'd become outright champion as he had been told he had exactly the same score as the eventual silver medallist, Nigeria's Roland Ezuruike.
It transpired a couple of hours later that the scoreboard had not actually shown the official scores to two decimal points, and the Englishman had actually claimed the overall victory.
It was a landmark triumph for Swan, as it was the first time the opening medals of any Games have been awarded to a para athlete.
"It's absolutely massive, absolutely huge. There's a really big sense of achievement," he said.
Australian Daniel Bos, a little disappointed with his personal performance, finished ninth of the 12 finalists.
"In terms of sport, it's just back to the drawing board now," Bos said.
"How can I be a better athlete? How can I perform better?"
But the Newcastle bodybuilder has a side hustle as an actor, having played gladiator Balbus in Spartacus: House of Ashur and also appeared in Avatar: Fire and Ash, and wondered if his Games exposure might help in that area too.
"In terms of acting, it's a bit quiet at the moment. So, if anyone wants to hit me up, feel free!" he smiled.
Though he might have some competition from the new champion.
"I've had thoughts about acting after lifting, and I'm ready to explore it," smiled Swan. "I'm open to offers!"
In the equivalent women's lightweight event, Nigerian Esther Nworgu took gold with a new Games record of 119 points, while Australians Jade Pritchard (60.6) and Natasha Price (57.2) finished, respectively, 10th and 11th.
Though Swan was the first champion of the Games, Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain was the first confirmed medallist -- and she didn't even have to throw a punch.
Borgohain, who once beat Australian Caitlin Parker to a world title, received a bye straight into the women's 75kg semi-finals, guaranteeing her a bronze before even having a bout.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Commonwealth Games Australia.
