'Didn't make any sense': Commonwealth Games confusion as first gold medal is won

Swan left the stage at the Armadillo thinking he had finished third, only to be told by his coach that he had won.

The man from County Durham lifted 222 kilogrammes - more than three times his own bodyweight - and finished level on points with Rolland Ezuruike of Nigeria in the men’s lightweight competition.

Swan was at a loss to explain what had given him victory over Ezuruike who had to settle for silver, with 2022 champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin taking bronze.

“I’m not sure,” said Swan. “I think it's maybe because I lifted last. I don’t actually know. We both got the exact same score. I was in the back room when I found out. I came back off the third lift and I actually thought I'd got bronze.

‘It didn't make any sense’

“My coach was like, ‘good job on gold’. It didn't make any sense, but then eventually we were lined up and he was like, ‘Mark, you've won gold’. I thought they were winding me up, but no, I'd actually won it.”

Swan had the honour of winning the first of 215 gold medals that will be awarded in Glasgow over the next 10 days, 47 of which are for para sports.

It is the first time in Commonwealth Games history that a para sport has opened the medal tally, reflecting its full integration. The Armadillo was around half-full for the event but noisy enough, with Outlander actor Sam Heughan on the decks.

Kilted up

Scottish competitor Finlay Davidson was introduced to a rousing ovation and finished fifth on his Commonwealth Games debut. A shoulder injury sustained in the gym hampered his preparations but the Inverkeithing athlete managed to finish top in Group B of the lightweight division. Davidson weighs just 48.8kg but lifted 166kg in the Armadillo.

“I would have liked to come out with a medal, but we'll take what we can,” said Davidson, who took up para powerlifting in 2022 after previously representing Scotland at discus and shot put. “Fifth was better than I thought. Unfortunately, I got an injury last week, so I knew I wasn't going to be 100 per cent. 166 is still quite good for me. It's not my best, I would have liked more in my bar, but we'll take what we can get.”

It was Davidson’s first time competing in a major competition in Scotland and he donned a kilt for the occasion. He said he was blown away by the reception he received.

“I didn’t get to wear it for the opening ceremony, so I thought I had to show it some love,” he said.

Asked what he made of the gold going to an Englishman, Davidson smiled. “I mean, he is my teammate outside of this competition, so I've got to be proud of him there. But he is English.”