Scotland's Reuben Ward seals historic gold medal in men's all-around gymnastics at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games - 'It's like climbing a mountain'
Updated 27/07/2026 at 15:00 GMT+1
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Reuben Ward made history on Sunday afternoon by becoming the first Scottish athlete to win a men's all-around title at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. It was a full-circle moment for the gymnast after he was in the stands watching in Glasgow 12 years ago as a supporter.
'I knew I could do it!' - Ward jubilant after historic Men's All-Around gold in gymnastics
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ward managed to hold his nerve on the high bar to finish with a score of 79.650, ahead of Canada's Felix Dolci, who took home the silver medal, and bronze medallist Jesse Moore from Australia.
Dolci kept the nerves jangling in the arena as he recovered from falling off the pommel horse twice earlier in the competition to storm back and put himself into medal contention.
It was the third gold medal for the hosts at this summer's Games after Duncan Scott defended his 200m individual medley crown before Faye Rogers claimed gold in the 200m individual medley SM10.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the event, Ward said that he was confident that he would take the gold medal home.
"I can believe it because I knew I could do it," he said. "But to actually do it, that’s a whole different story.
"Going around in the competition and seeing myself in first throughout and trying to hold my nerve during the high bar was a really tough task.
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Watch: 'Crowning moment' - Ward moves into gold medal position after horizontal bar routine
Video credit: TNT Sports
"[The winning feeling] is just jubilation. It’s joy and it’s just incredible. I’m so grateful to be in this position. A big thanks to everyone on my team, to my family, my team-mates and my coaches. I wouldn’t have done it without them, so this is a joint win.
"Looking at it all round, it’s like climbing a mountain. It’s massive. But if you take it one piece at a time, it’s just little chunks, and then you start doing better routines, scoring better, and then the results will come. I’m just incredibly happy.
"When I first started gymnastics, it took me a long time to get out of the recreational programmes. I wasn’t necessarily very talented, and I’m not exactly built to be a gymnast, but it was just constant hard work.
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"It was stacking wins over losses and manifestation is something that I got into last year. Picturing it with a lot of emotion is almost the same as doing it and your mind can go into that mode when the time comes.
"I practised it in my head, in real life, and it happened and I’m so proud of myself."
Speaking in the TNT Sports studio, six-time Olympic medallist Max Whitlock, who was forced to withdraw from competing at the Games because of injury, was full of praise for Ward's performance and his composure during the event.
"It was jam-packed with some of the big hitters making mistakes early on," he explained.
"Reuben Ward had the potential to try and get into the medal positions but you probably wouldn’t have put him up as a favourite to win.
"Everywhere, he was solid, consistent, reliable, and you could trust that he was going to go through. He looked calm and collected. He delivered all the way down to the last one where he nailed it."
Ward has now set his sights on Monday's pommel horse and warned his opponents that he is ready to fight for a place on the podium once again.
"Tomorrow, I’m just going to give it everything I’ve got," he told TNT Sports.
"I know I can win, I just need to trust myself and that’s what I’m going to try and do. Hopefully, I’ll be bringing back another gold for Scotland."
The Scot also singled out his coach Jake Seagar for special praise and added: "Jake has been by my side since I was seven years old and I’m now 21.
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'The ultimate glory' - Ward celebrates historic Men's All-Around gold for Scotland
Video credit: TNT Sports
"There’s no way I would be where I am without him. He’s always been by my side. You might have seen him in the background during my pommel horse routine yesterday and he might’ve been more excited than I was.
"He’s living it with me and it’s a partnership. It’s not just me, this is his medal as well, so I just wanted to say a big thanks to him."
TNT Sports expert Nile Wilson was shown giving a massive hug to Jake following the medal ceremony and the Olympic bronze medallist was delighted for Ward to get over the line.
"That was unbelievable. I’m honestly a little bit speechless," he said. "I’ve known Reuben since he was a young man. I am shaking with adrenaline – it was worse watching than doing.
"I know exactly what that feels like at that moment. He’s a special young gymnast coming through. His pommel horse is his speciality, and we know he’s made the final and qualified in first but this result today was unexpected.
"He just held it together so well and it’s his first Games and the first time in this environment. I’m so impressed and I know that Reuben has a very bright future in this sport."
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The Commonwealth Games is entering a new era with TNT Sports and HBO Max set to deliver a never-before-seen viewing experience, with every event from Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games exclusively live across all HBO Max plans in the UK and Ireland.
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