By Nick Hope
Olympic champions Daniel Wiffen and Jack McMillan will lead Northern Ireland’s push for a record haul of Commonwealth Games honours in the pool after being selected as part of a 13-strong swimming squad for Glasgow 2026.
They are joined by two para swimmers; five-time Paralympic champion Bethany Firth and Barry McClements, who became Northern Ireland’s first-ever Commonwealth medallist in a swimming discipline when he claimed bronze at Birmingham 2022.
Wiffen won silver at the last edition of the multi-sport Games, which kick-started a stunning run of success over the following two-years, with the swimmer going on to secure multiple Olympic, World and European podium finishes.
“It means a lot to me, we only get to represent Northern Ireland every four years so it’s something special and it means a lot to represent the place where I grew up and learned to swim,” said Wiffen, who represented Ireland at Paris 2024.
“My goal for 2026 is to win the Commonwealths, win the European Long Course and the World Short Course and the Commonwealths is the kick-starter for these last three competitions to kind of complete every competition that I can win.”
The swimmer adds that he is “looking forward” to Glasgow 2026, where he plans to contest the Men’s 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle events.
McMillan won Commonwealth Youth bronze in 2017, before making his senior Commonwealth Games bow at Birmingham 2022, where he recorded a best-placed finish of 11th in the Men’s 100m Freestyle.
Since then, he has become one of Great Britain’s most accomplished 200m Freestyle swimmers. McMillan claimed gold at Paris 2024 after racing as part of the Team GB Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay heats line-up, but he has subsequently become one of the ‘main four’ and helped Britain secure World Championships gold last summer.
One of the major highlights of the Glasgow 2026 pool programme is likely to be the Men’s 200m Freestyle final (29 July), which is expected to feature the foursome.
To add an extra level of intrigue, each will represent a different home nation; McMillan (Northern Ireland), Duncan Scott (Scotland), Matt Richards (Wales) and James Guy (England).
“The Commonwealth Games mean a big deal because I get to represent Northern Ireland and I don’t get to do that too often,” said McMillan, who will race the 100m, 200m and 400m Freestyle events in Scotland this summer.
“I’ve done the Youth Games and then Birmingham 2022, so it’s great that it’s coming around again and I’m looking forward to representing my country again.”
Before Birmingham 2022 no Northern Irish swimmer had ever claimed a Commonwealth Games medal in a swimming discipline, but Firth (gold), Wiffen (silver) and McClements (bronze) helped the nation to landmark podium treble.
CREDIT: https://www.glasgow2026.com/news/4503347/wiffen-and-mcmillan-to-lead-teamni-at-glasgow-2026