Glasgow 2026: Jake Wightman hopes 'stars align' at Commonwealth Games

Jake Wightman, the 31-year-old Scottish athlete who claimed global silver in Tokyo last year after a few injury-plagued years, believes that 'the stars are aligning' at the right time for him to make one final attempt at winning a Commonwealth Games gold for Scotland.

Wightman has been named as part of Team Scotland for the 2026 Glasgow event, which promises to be an exciting and historic edition after it was initially scrapped due to financial concerns. The athletics event is expected to award 215 gold medals over ten days, with Wightman and his teammates - including Neil Gourley and Josh Kerr, a two-time Olympic medallist who is yet to be officially announced for the team - hoping to bring home some well-deserved glory.

In Tokyo, Wightman finished second in the men's 1500m event behind Australia's Charles Grever. Despite struggling with injuries since his world triumph in 2022, Wightman believes that this could be a chance to finally achieve what he has been working towards for years - winning a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Wightman said that he is fairly certain that this will be his last Commonwealth Games event and wants to "upgrade" the bronze medal he won in Birmingham. He also added that should he win, it would not only be a personal triumph but also an opportunity to celebrate being Scottish, having moved to Scotland when he was 10 years old.

For Wightman, winning a gold medal at his home Games will not only bring him pride but also serve as a way to show appreciation for the country that has given him so much.

So they're sayin' Jake Wightman is gonna give it one last shot for Scotland and I think that's awesome! He's been through some tough times with injuries, but he's still got it in him and I love his positive vibe about "the stars aligning". It's great to see athletes like Wightman who are passionate about their country and willing to put in the hard work to achieve their dreams. And can you imagine competing at your home Games? That must be a real adrenaline rush! The atmosphere must be electric, especially with 215 gold medals on the line . Good luck to Wightman and the rest of Team Scotland - let's hope they bring home some serious hardware!

think its awesome how Jake's getting a second chance at making it count , after all those injuries, he's still chasing that gold, and its cool he's setting his sights on Glasgow, where hes gonna get to run in front of the home crowd, that gotta give him an extra boost of energy . also, its sweet how hes tying his achievement with being Scottish, it shows how much that means to him . wonder what Josh Kerr is going through, been hearing rumors about a potential comeback

I'm thinking about Jake Wightman's words - 'the stars are aligning'... it got me wondering what our lives would be like if they were always aligned for us? Do we ever feel like we're just on the cusp of something amazing, but it keeps slipping through our fingers? It's like, is there a balance between having everything fall into place and feeling like you're being held back by external circumstances? For Wightman, this could be his last chance to shine... does that mean he'll feel like he's got nothing to lose from now on?

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s really admirable how Jake Wightman is staying focused on his goals despite all the setbacks he's faced, you know? Like, he could have easily thrown in the towel after all those injuries and just been happy with what he has, but nope, he's still gunning for that Commonwealth Games gold . And I love how he sees this as a chance to upgrade his bronze from Birmingham, it's like he's got a clear vision of what he wants to achieve . Plus, winning at home would mean so much to him, and I think we can all relate to wanting to prove ourselves in front of our own people . It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, especially with the new team he's got .

I feel like Jake Wightman is gonna crush it in Glasgow! He's been through some tough times with injuries and all, but he's still got that fire in his belly. And you know what's even better? That it's gonna be the final Commonwealth Games for him - that's gotta give him an extra boost of motivation! I mean, can you imagine winning a gold medal at your home Games? The pride alone would make me wanna jump up and down . But what really gets me is how much it means to him, like he wants to upgrade that bronze from Birmingham to gold. That's the kind of dedication and passion that makes you root for someone!

I'm so stoked to see Jake Wightman on this team! He's been through some ups and downs with injuries, but he's still got the heart of a lion . I love how he's setting his sights on one final Commonwealth Games gold - it's gonna be epic to watch him give it his all in Glasgow . And can you imagine if he wins? Scotland is gonna be SO proud!󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

idk man , I think this is a great opportunity for Jake to shine and prove himself, but at the same time, he's been saying he's gonna retire after this, so what if he just gets all hyped and doesn't follow through? also, Glasgow 2026 is supposed to be historic and exciting, but let's be real, it's still a Commonwealth Games... not exactly the most prestigious competition in athletics . on the other hand, seeing him get that bronze in Birmingham was really inspiring, so maybe he actually does have what it takes to bring home gold

think jake wightman's got some serious motivation going on here... being part of team scotland in glasgow is more than just a competition, it's like he's trying to prove something to himself and his new roots . i mean, 10 years ago, he was just a young lad from scotland living abroad... now he's got a family, a life, and a reputation on the line . it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out - will he get that gold?