Scotland’s Reuben Ward has become the first man to win Commonwealth gold for Scotland in the all-around gymnastics, debuting with a triumphant performance that left the crowd roaring and his competitors in the dust. Ward nailed a 12.700 on the horizontal bar to seal the deal, finishing with a total score of 79.650 - just enough to edge out Canada’s Felix Dolci (who scored a remarkable 14.500 on the horizontal bar but finished with a total of 64.950) and Cyprus’s Marios Georgiou (78.950). England’s Adam Tobin secured bronze with a solid 13.050 on the horizontal bar, finishing with 78.800. Ward’s win was a nail-biter, but he held his nerve: “I knew I could do it, but to actually do it is a whole different story. Trying to hold my nerve on the high bar was a really tough task.” He credited his team, family, and coaches - basically everyone he’s ever met.

Meanwhile, weightlifting saw India’s Mirabai Chanu Saikhom set a new Commonwealth Games record in the women’s 48kg category, with a snatch of 85kg and a clean & jerk of 105kg - the 85kg also being a Commonwealth Record. She passed on her third attempt because, frankly, she’d already shown off enough. Ruth Nyong of Nigeria took silver with a 168kg total, and Irene James Henry of Malaysia bagged bronze at 167kg. Scotland’s Alex Mackay lifted 81kg in the clean & jerk, while Wales’s Nikole Roberts managed 84kg - respectable, but not record-breaking.

On the pool front, Adam Ramsay-Peaty made a comeback in the 50m breaststroke preliminaries, just a day after his shocking defeat in the 100m final. The 31-year-old swimmer, known for his emotional transparency and a tattoo of Poseidon, admitted he’s been battling burnout, a broken foot, and family estrangement. He called his plan to end his career at the LA Olympics “the hardest climb I have ever faced.” But he’s back in the water, which is more than most of us can say after a rough Tuesday.

In boxing, England’s Damar Thomas faces a unique challenge: he must defeat Aziz Abdul ‘Ringo’, the grandson of Idi Amin, the former Ugandan dictator who once proclaimed himself “King of Scotland.” Aziz is proud of his lineage, saying, “My grandfather’s achievements inspired me… A lion cannot give back to a dog or a camel.” He promises to use his mysterious ‘Ringo Punch’ to knock out Thomas, and if he wins, he’ll declare himself the “new king of Scotland.” The last king of Scotland (self-proclaimed) inspired an Oscar-winning film; this one might inspire a Netflix documentary.

Netball saw Australia defeat England 66-47 in a pool match, extending their Commonwealth Games record against the Roses to seven wins from eight meetings. England’s last victory was a dramatic last-second winner in 2018, but this time Australia were “quicker, sharper, and more clinical,” as if they’d been practicing. Malawi beat Northern Ireland 66-48, moving to fourth in Pool A.

And in a night of high drama, Scotland’s Reuben Ward became the first Scottish man to win Commonwealth gold in the all-around gymnastics, proving that sometimes the underdog does win - especially when the crowd is screaming “Flower of Scotland” at full volume.