Para powerlifter Mark Swan was left beaming after claiming the first gold of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Swan, 25, upgraded his silver from four years ago after edging out Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike in the men’s lightweight competition.

The Seaham lifter thought he had won bronze in a tight competition that saw defending champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin finish third, only to be told by his coaches he had won gold.

Swan and Ezuruike both finished on 153.9 points and in the end, Swan’s score was superior to two decimal places.

“I'm not exactly sure why I won,” he admitted. “I think it's because I lifted it last, maybe, but I'm not sure.

“On the actual score, I think it was the exact same decimal point. I found out in the back room. I'd come back off my third lift and thought I'd got bronze. My coach said, ‘Good job on gold’ and it didn't make any sense. Then we were lined up and he told me again.

“I thought they were winding me up, but I'd actually won, and it still hasn't quite sunk in.”

Swan now insists the sky is the limit for him, both on the para powerlifting stage and the TV screen.

The 25-year-old revealed he has been exploring dipping his toe into the acting world and hopes his gold medal will get the offers flooding in -  but not before he becomes Paralympic champion at LA 2028.

“This is just the start,” he said. “I've been training my heart out and doing everything I possibly can.

“My ambition is to become a Paralympic gold medallist and a world record holder, and go from there.

“I've thought about [TV] after lifting. I'm ready to explore other opportunities and I'd be more than happy to give them a go. Hopefully there'll be a lot of offers.”

Swan clinched his first gold by lifting 222kg on his second attempt, over three times his bodyweight.

It is a milestone medal for the County Durham native, who won silver at both the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Paris 2024 Paralympics.

He now makes the step up to the top of the podium and was thrilled to pull off the feat in front of friends and family.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” he added. “A massive sense of achievement and a lot of relief as well.

“Being the first gold medal for Team England is massive. It's a really big achievement.

“Hopefully this brings everybody on now from Team England and they're pushing on the same.

“I've got pretty much all my family here. I've got my in-laws over from America as well. It's the first time they've watched me compete and I've won a gold medal, so it doesn't get much better than that.

“It means absolutely everything to do it in front of them. I'm excited to see them after this. I'm really thankful and really grateful.”

One friend in particular stood out, with team-mate Liam McGarry’s constant encouragement ringing around the SEC Armadillo as Swan competed.

McGarry was forced to miss the Games due to injury and Swan was quick to dedicate his medal to his friend.

“He's a really good friend. He makes himself heard wherever he is,” he added.

“I'm incredibly proud of him. He's come through all kinds of challenges. I'm over the moon that he was here, and this one was for him.”

There was also English representation on the podium in the women's lightweight event, with Olivia Broome earning bronze.

The Chorley lifter finished with 106.6 points and said: "To come away with a bronze medal after battling a bit of an illness last week and trying to bring back the shape that I was in in such a short amount of time, to be walking away with this, I'm happy."

Lottie McGuinness finished fifth on 96.9 points.

In the women's heavyweight para powerlifting, 42-year-old Louise Sugden put up a valiant effort but narrowly missed out on a medal, ending fourth on 106.5 points.

“It's been a hell of a journey," said Sugden. "Four years ago, I was having shoulder surgery after withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games, so just getting out onto the platform was magical.

"To come here and lift four kilos more than I've ever lifted before, I can only be proud.”

Teammate Doaa Shayea finished two places behind in sixth, with 93.3 points.

“I'm still trying to let it all sink in," said Shayea. "I don't think it fully has yet. It was just incredible. I couldn't have asked for a better performance at my first Commonwealth Games. I'm just ecstatic.”

Another medal was added to the Team England para powerlifting haul late on Friday evening, as Matt Harding won silver in the men's heavyweight contest.

An emotional Harding dedicated his medal to his family, after losing his father before the last Games.

“It was amazing being on the podium, watching all my family cry, because it was such a different emotion from four years ago," said Harding, who held up a photo of his late father next to his medal.

"They were tears of joy. They've stuck behind me every step of the way and I was so determined, four years ago, to give them something to enjoy on a platform like this, because it's what they absolutely deserve.”

Sportsbeat 2026