From Love Island to Commonwealth gold: McConnell's gamble pays off

Northern Ireland's Jon McConnell claimed Commonwealth Games gold in the men's 70kg boxing final on Saturday, beating Wales' Orlando Holley-Sotomi via split decision.

The 23-year-old had applied to appear on the reality show Love Island but instead chose to compete in Glasgow. After his victory, he said the decision had paid off, though he did not rule out a future stint in the villa.

McConnell revealed he had predicted his success back on 28 December, marking 1 August as the day he would win gold. He said the goal had been a childhood dream and that he had worked for it every day.

In the final, Holley-Sotomi made a strong start and caught McConnell in the first round. The Northern Irish boxer then changed tactics, becoming busier and landing cleaner shots to edge a close contest.

The gold was Northern Ireland's only boxing gold and the team's second of the Games, following Kate O'Connor's heptathlon victory on Wednesday. McConnell joked that he was in good company and vowed to keep pushing for bigger things.

The boxing squad as a whole enjoyed a successful tournament, with six of the 12 athletes earning medals. Michaela Walsh and Kaci Rock took silver, while Willie John McCartan, Garyn McAllister and Jude Gallagher secured bronze.

Walsh's silver was her fourth consecutive Commonwealth medal – three silvers and a gold from 2022. She now plans to use the Games as a springboard for the European Championships in six weeks.

Rock, competing in her first Games, said many had doubted the young, inexperienced team, but they proved their potential by bringing home six medals.

Only four boxers – Louis Rooney, Janssen Hill, Eoghan Quinn and JP Hale – lost their opening bouts, while Nicole Clyde and Caitlin Fryers reached the quarter-finals.