Image source, Getty Images and InphoImage caption, Kate O'Connor, Daniel Wiffen and Ellie McCartney all won medals on a wonderful Wednesday for Team Northern Ireland
ByLauren McCannBBC Sport NI Journalist in Glasgow- Published2 minutes ago
In the space of a few dramatic hours on Wednesday, Team Northern Ireland surged up the medal charts and transformed the complexion of their 2026 Commonwealth Games
As has so often been the case down the years, the boxers did their part. In the afternoon and early evening there was the guarantee of at least four medals as Michaela Walsh, Jude Gallagher and Willie John McCartan all won their quarter-finals, while Jon McConnell received a walkover to the semi-finals.
With at least a bronze in the bag, all will go again on Friday hoping to upgrade their medal to silver or even gold.
It was in the pool and on the track, however, where a full podium's worth of medals in the space of 109 minutes ensured it was to be a wonderful Wednesday for Team NI.
First Ellie McCartney produced a superb swim to win a surprise bronze in the women's 200m breaststroke final and Daniel Wiffen then rallied from underwhelming displays in the 400m and 800m to win silver in the men's 1500m.
The best was saved for last as Kate O'Connor's gold in the heptathlon, the first of the Games for NI and their first in athletics since 1986, capped off a historic day across the board.
In a reception at the Team NI hotel held the morning after the night before, O'Connor and McCartney were able to really reflect on their achievements while Wiffen did so poolside on Wednesday, as the magnitude of what they had achieved in bringing an NI a perfect gold, silver and bronze in one night, began to sink in.
Milestone moment for O'Connor with Glasgow gold
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Wiffen rallies for silver as McCartney claims bronze
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O'Connor wins NI's first gold medal in heptathlon
- Published20 hours ago
'I didn't realise the gravity of what I had done'
Image source, InphoImage caption, O'Connor finished top of the heptathlon standings with 6,569 points
O'Connor won the gold in the heptathlon at a canter, finishing 291 points ahead of her nearest challenger while producing season's bests in the long jump and javelin.
It is the sixth successive championship medal she has collected but her first senior gold and she is eagerly awaiting Thursday night's medal ceremony at Scotstoun Stadium to finally get the reward for her hard work.
"It has sunk in but it won't be until have the medal round my neck that it will feel fully real when I have the goods in my hands," she told BBC Sport NI.
"I got a few hours last night, I did a lot of tossing and turning but hopefully I can have the best sleep of my life [on Thursday] but I'm going to try enjoy today as much as I possibly can."
O'Connor not only scooped a first NI athletics gold in 40 years, but also their first multi-class gold medal since Lady Mary Peters won the pentathlon in 1974.
The 25-year-old feels honoured to have her name associated with someone held in such high-esteem.
"I didn't realise the gravity of what I had done until people throw stats like that at me. Winning the gold medal was my aim and the history that comes with it makes it a bit more special," she added.
With such a healthy lead, the Newry-born athlete was already nailed on for gold when she took her position at the start line for the 800m, but she was determined to finish in style and did just that, coming in first position for the third event in a row and even allowed herself to celebrate just before she crossed the finish line.
"I had the privilege of standing on the line and knowing I could do whatever I wanted. I knew the girls would fight for the bronze, I didn't want to be involved with that.
"I found myself in striking distance with like 80m to go and I thought 'end the day with three wins in a row'.
"I felt so fit which is another huge positive for the rest of the season. I really enjoyed that run and I never thought I'd say it out loud."
Silver medal swim a '10 out of 10' performance from Wiffen
Image source, InphoImage caption, Wiffen bounced back from disappointment in the 400m and 800m to take his second Commonwealth Games silver medal
Wiffen, a self-proclaimed "medal guarantee" heading to Glasgow duly delivered in the 1500m.
He had previously struggled in the 400m and 800m as he missed out on the podium in both, but saved his best performance for last, finishing 2.69 seconds behind the relentless Sam Short, but comfortably ahead of Benjamin Goedemans of Australia in third.
Short made it a hat-trick of golds by pipping Wiffen to the top step of the podium, but the Magheralin man was pleased with his display after a difficult start to the year.
"I was trying to keep with him, but at some point he just pushed it in the middle. My plan was to push 800m, but I just had no energy, so I just tried to hold off and then at the end I found a slim boost. I think it was crowd noise that got me going and I was able to keep pushing it," he said.
"I thought I had a chance of catching him, but it was just a bit too little time to get to him.
"How do I rate our swim? I give it a 10 out of 10, to be honest. With the whole situation there this year, that's the best I could put together on the day and I'm very happy."
McCartney's phone 'blowing up' after unexpected bronze
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, McCartney finished 0.16 seconds ahead of Australia's Ella Ramsay to claim bronze
For McCartney, who qualified sixth fastest for the final, an unexpected first senior medal still feels "so surreal" as she had not anticipated coming away with a bronze from her first Games.
The 21-year-old, who won two gold medals and a bronze at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games, finished third in a time of 2:24.73, 0.16 seconds ahead of Australia's Ella Ramsay.
"I appreciate all the kind messages and my phone has just been blowing up," she said.
"I didn't know what the race would be like and I had to wait all week for it, but for it to be the very last night helped me as I think the other girls were a bit tired. It was to the wall, right down to the wire, it was tight."
McCartney herself "didn't have a clue" during the race that she was in contention or that she had claimed bronze until the results flashed up on the big screen at Tollcross Swimming Centre.
"I could only see the girl beside me but I knew if I was close to her I'd be doing well so I just really pushed it and glad I got my hand on the wall first."
