The short version
- Scotland won 13 gold, nine silver, and 17 bronze medals, marking its third-best performance in history despite a smaller team size than in 2014.
- The medal count represents an improvement in efficiency, with one podium finish for every 4.54 competitors, up from 5.30 four years ago.
- Historic achievements included first-ever medals in men's gymnastics all-around and women's boxing, alongside a record number of Para-sport podiums.
Team Scotland concluded its second home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a medal tally that ranks as the nation’s third-best ever. The squad secured 39 total medals, including 13 golds, nine silvers, and 17 bronzes, placing fifth in the final standings. This result mirrors the gold count from the Birmingham Games four years prior but improves upon the overall ranking by one position. While the total falls short of the 19 golds won during the 2014 Glasgow event, officials and analysts point to structural changes in the competition that contextualize the performance.
The disparity in raw numbers is partly explained by a significant reduction in team size. Scotland fielded 177 athletes this year, compared to a record 313 in 2014. Additionally, the streamlined sports program offered only 215 gold medals available for contention, down from 261 in 2014 and 283 in Birmingham. These adjustments altered the competitive landscape, resulting in a higher ratio of success per athlete. For every 4.54 Scottish competitors, one medal was awarded, an improvement over the 5.30 ratio seen four years ago.
Success was distributed across a wide range of disciplines and abilities. Only two sports, netball and Para-powerlifting, failed to yield any medals. Athletics achieved its second-largest haul in 44 years, while gymnastics secured a historic first men’s all-around gold. The team also recorded an all-time high of 14 medals in Para-sport events. New podiums were reached in women’s boxing and 3x3 basketball, marking the first time Scotland has medaled in those specific categories at the Games.
Individual performances highlighted both consistency and narrow misses. Duncan Scott added two medals to his career total, extending his record as Scotland’s most decorated Games athlete with 14 overall, though he fell short of the six-medal haul he achieved in Birmingham. Neil Fachie claimed two golds in para-cycling to lead the team in gold medal count, while swimmer Angharad Evans stood out with two individual golds and relay podium finishes. Chef de Mission Elinor Middlemiss emphasized pride in the team’s diverse achievements, noting that many athletes came agonizingly close to additional medals through narrow fourth and fifth-place finishes.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC Sport↗Was Glasgow a successful Games for Team Scotland?
