Six‑time Paralympic champion Bethany Firth captured Northern Ireland’s first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games by taking bronze in the women’s 200m freestyle S14 at the Tollcross Swimming Centre. Firth, 30, who previously claimed gold in the same event in Birmingham, finished third with a time of 2:07.63.

She opened the heat in first place and entered the final as a favourite, but was outpaced by England’s Georgia Sheffield and Poppy Maskill/former rival. Firth’s strong first 100micted, yet Maskill edged her out at 2:07.44, while Sheffield surged in the final 50m to set a Commonwealth Games record of 2:06.07.

The result marks a historic moment for Northern Ireland, highlighting Firth’s longevity as she competes in her fourth Games. Despite the setback in the final, her bronze underlines the depth of talent in the S14 classification.

The event underscored the competitive spirit of the Games, with athletes pushing boundaries and setting new records across multiple disciplines.