‘Mariah Cleggy’ channels Messi to swim to gold before relay team take bronze

‘Mariah Cleggy’ channels Messi to swim to gold for Scotland Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Stephen Clegg is one of three siblings to have competed in top-level swimmingByRichard WintonBBC Sport Scotland at Tollcross International Swimming CentrePublished1 hour agoStephen Clegg’s coach thinks he’s a bit of a diva. “He likes to call me Mariah Cleggy,” the Scottish swimmer stated. And the 30-year-old certainly brought the drama to Tollcross on Tuesday, rampaging his way to an unexpected victory in the Commonwealth Games 50m freestyle S14.The triumph took the host nation’s tally to seven golds – and a total of 14 medals – on day five of the 11-day competition and added to the silver Clegg claimed on the opening night in the 100m version of the event.Not bad for a man who thought his career might be done earlier this season.After double Paralympic gold in Paris in 2024, Clegg required surgery to address a growth inside his shoulder. A bit of bone shaving. Nothing hugely serious, he says.But the physical and mental receipts of that have lingered for the man who grew up in the Borders town of Newcastleton with sister Libby – a double Paralympic champion from 2012 – and older brother James, who was tied fourth in this race. All three have stargardt macular dystrophy, which affects their vision.”The gold in Paris was special because it was a really tough journey to get there. But this has been more challenging in some ways,” he told BBC Sport Scotland.”It wasn’t necessarily a realistic… I don’t know if realistic is the right word but I was prepared to not win gold. But I think I swam beyond myself today.”Bee Gees at bowls as Scotland Para-mixed pairs retain gold