Being in Glasgow for a Commonwealth Games is bringing back fond memories for Dan Keatings and the gymnast hopes Reuben Ward can follow in his footsteps as a pommel horse champion.
Keatings, 36, came out on top ahead of Max Whitlock and Louis Smith when the Games were last held in Scotland’s largest city in 2014.
Whitlock’s much-anticipated comeback is now off the cards due to injury, leaving Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan as the frontrunner in the pommel horse.
But Ward earned the British title on the apparatus earlier this year and Keatings hopes the Scottish squad can harness the power of a home crowd and earn plenty of medals on the mat.
“It was the most memorable competition of my career,” Keatings said of 2014.
“I've been to Olympics, I've been to Worlds, I've been to Euros, but the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is just something you can't replicate, and it's just amazing to be back at such a brilliant event.
“There's nothing better than a home crowd. You just know you've got a whole country back in you, basically, and you raise your game and you just feel full of pride. It's just an amazing feeling.
“It gives me tingles thinking about it now. I loved it. I know some people might not, it depends on your personality, but if you can nurture that and use it to your advantage, it really does help.
“A few of us from the 2014 squad have spoken to them and sent a few messages about trying to use the crowd, use that atmosphere, get hyped and don't be afraid of it.”
Keatings was speaking as part of ‘Gymnastics Golden Moment’, which saw a combined team of decorated stars gather at the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club, to celebrate the support of The National Lottery players that have helped hundreds of athletes get to Glasgow 2026.
The National Lottery has invested more than £9 billion into sport across the UK, from grassroots to elite level, via 143,000 grants, from local facilities to the Commonwealth Games stage.
These have funded the coaches, facilities and athlete development pathways that have brought each team to the start line.
In Glasgow alone, more than £1 billion has been invested through over 14,000 grants since 1994, and Keatings is well aware of the importance of the continued investment.
“It’s massive. Without that funding, I wouldn't have got my results,” he said.
“The club we're in today is has had massive funding and a facility like this is vital as it brings the talent through it.
“A huge thank you to all the players and do keep playing, because that's what's helping everybody get to that elite level and not have to worry about the financial pressures of having to work and do elite sport at the same time.
“It helps with everything, from equipment, to travel, to training for competitions, looking after yourself, the nutritional stuff, rehabilitation, physiotherapy. It literally covers everything, so you can be the best that you can be.”
Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33m is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.
