After four years of waiting, Thomas Young has another shot at a Commonwealth medal in front of his nearest and dearest after being selected by Team England for the 2026 Games in Glasgow.
Thomas Young suffered a crushing injury before the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – and now he will seek retribution on his 26th birthday.
The T38 sprinter remains one of the best in the world after a bronze at the 2025 World Championships in New Delhi, while a 2020 Paralympic gold and three European Championship titles highlight his credentials as a serial winner.
And after four years of waiting, Young has another shot at a Commonwealth medal in front of his nearest and dearest after being selected by Team England for the 2026 Games in Glasgow.
The Loughborough 100m runner said: “My injury was an uncommon one – I jumped after a race and fell over, which caused a hairline fracture in my knee, and a few ligaments needed to be rested too.
“It was a really gutting moment because I was in such good shape back then and was one of the favourites in front of a home stadium with my family and friends in the crowd. It was a really bitter pill to swallow, so to be called up again in a Team England kit will be a special moment.
“Even though I couldn’t be involved, I was down on the track that night doing some interviews and watching my friends compete, so I was still part of the Games.
“It made me hungrier. I remember sitting there thinking I had missed my chance at a home Games, so when Australia pulled out and Glasgow stepped in for 2026, I thought this was my chance.”
Young’s career began with a bang at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, where he scooped the T38 100m and 200m double.
He retained his 100m title in 2021 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and a few weeks later added a Paralympic title to his trophy cabinet, but Young believes the sport has changed since then.
He said: “I got the injury in 2022 and had a few more niggles going into 2023, so by Paris came around, I was back in shape, but it took a long time.
“New people came into the sport, and the event just got so much stronger. I didn’t get to emulate what I wanted in Paris, but I can’t dwell on the past.”
To add to the fairytale, the 100m final takes place on 27 July, Young’s 26th birthday. And he has a succinct plan.
He said: “Hopefully, 26 will be my best-ever birthday. Wake up, celebrate my birthday, race, then open some presents.
“I compete very early on in the Games so after that I’ll be the ultimate fanboy. I’m a massive sports fan and will watch anything, but my dad is a huge boxing fan, so watching the boxing will be a cool experience.”
Team England are Ready to Win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Keep up to date on https://teamengland.org/