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Hobbs bolts to 100m gold, Clareburt goes back-to-back as medals flow for New Zealand
Sport Nation • July 29th, 2026 8:50 am
Zoe Hobbs | Photo: Photosport
Lewis Clareburt has stamped himself as one of the stars of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, storming to gold in the men’s 400m individual medley, as day five saw a deluge of medals for New Zealand.
The Wellingtonian paced the race beautifully, staying within striking distance through the butterfly and backstroke legs before making his move in the breaststroke, rising from fourth to first and powering home in the freestyle.
Clareburt finished just 0.2 seconds outside his Commonwealth Games record from Birmingham four years ago, securing back-to-back 400m IM titles. It is also his second gold in as many days in Glasgow, after winning the 200m butterfly final 24 hours earlier.
Lewis Clareburt | Photo: Photosport
Sprinter Zoe Hobbs created history, winning New Zealand's first 100m medal in Commonwealth Games.
Hobbs produced a personal best of 10.93s to set a new national and Oceania record, hitting the line just ahead of England's Amy Hunt (10.98s) and Australian Torrie Lewis (10.99s).
Clareburt’s latest triumph is New Zealand’s second gold medal of the Games and the country’s eighth medal from the pool, after compatriot Erika Fairweather added another to her haul later on Wednesday morning (NZ time).
Fairweather claimed her third silver in Glasgow in the women's 800m freestyle in a race dominated by Australian phenom Lani Pallister.
The medals continued for New Zealand, with Lauren Bruce earning silver in the hammer throw with a best effort of 68.93m.
Cameron McTaggart wins silver in the Men's 88kg Weightlifting Final | Photo: Photosport
Away from the water, Cameron McTaggart delivered New Zealand’s first medal outside swimming, claiming silver in the men’s 88kg weightlifting.
The 28-year-old totalled 338kg, finishing behind Malaysia’s Hafizuddin Muhammad, who won gold with 345kg. Scotland’s Angus Doig took bronze with 309kg.
McTaggart lifted 154kg in the snatch and 184kg in the clean and jerk, before taking a bold shot at 192kg in an attempt to chase down Muhammad. The lift did not come off, but silver still marked a career highpoint for one of New Zealand’s most experienced weightlifters.
McTaggart, who has competed at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, said the medal had been “15 years in the making”.
“I’m ecstatic,” he said.
“To have everyone here. They know how tough the build-up has been. I went into the competition today with the mantra ‘free and fearless’. I just let my body go and it worked well.”
