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Glasgow 2026 gold medalist: Eliza McCartney
New Zealand Team pole vaulter Eliza McCartney has been named the New Zealand Team’s Ngā Pou Hāpai Wahine (flag bearer) for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.
McCartney, was announced as flag bearer by New Zealand Team Chef de Mission Nigel Avery at a closing Team function today.
“She embodies the traits we value in the New Zealand Team. She has shown incredible resilience, competes with courage, carries herself with humility and has the respect of her teammates and competitors alike. We're proud to have her carry the flag for Aotearoa New Zealand,” said Avery.
“Eliza’s performance in Glasgow was exceptional, defeating the Olympic champion Nina Kennedy on her way to gold in Glasgow. It was special to see her on top of the dais after a journey that has seen its fair share of ups and downs,” he said.
McCartney was honoured to get the call from Avery.
“This team means a lot to me and to have the honour of carrying the flag at the Closing ceremony is another special memory I can take from these Games,” said McCartney.
“The culture of Manaaki and sense of belonging that runs throughout the New Zealand Team is truly unique and special to who we are. I may be biased, but I don’t think any other country does it quite like us and that is something I know I’ll be proud to carry with me as I carry the flag for Aotearoa.”
“Eliza’s shown a huge amount of perseverance and determination and kept believing she could be a force in Women’s Pole Vault,” said Avery.
“To come back and win Commonwealth Games gold and beat the reigning Olympic champion, speaks volumes about her character and resilience,” he said.
McCartney’s gold was one of several standout performances for the New Zealand Team at Glasgow 2026, with athletes delivering across the board.
The swimming team produced one of New Zealand’s strongest Commonwealth Games campaigns, finishing with 10 medals, including two gold, five silver and three bronze.
Erika Fairweather and Lewis Clareburt led the way in the pool, claiming an incredible eight medals between them, with Fairweather’s haul of five medals equalling Danyon Loader’s mark for the most individual medals by a New Zealander at a single Commonwealth Games. Clareburt’s two golds were underlined by world-class times.
On the track, Zoe Hobbs produced New Zealand’s most memorable sprinting performance, winning gold in the women’s 100m. Hobbs ran 10.93s in wet conditions to take the title in one of the glamour events of the Games.
Weightlifter David Liti produced a defining moment of the Games, winning gold in the men’s +110kg division with his final lift. Liti needed 223kg in the clean and jerk to take the title and delivered under pressure, winning by a single kilogram.
The New Zealand Team celebrated gold in the track cycling, with Emma Foy and Jessie Hodges claiming two titles, one of which included a spectacular comeback, while Devon Briggs also won gold in the Men's C3 1000m Time Trial setting a Games Record.
On the final day of competition at Glasgow 2026 there were two more gold medal moments to celebrate.
The New Zealand Netball Team completed a flawless Games performance, overwhelming Jamaica in the gold medal match to win 56-48.
While Sydnee Andrews won gold in the 78+kg division in Judo, New Zealand’s first Judo gold since Brent Cooper, who won gold in the half-lightweight division in Auckland 1990.
Avery said the breadth of performances across the Team had been a feature of the campaign.
“We’ve seen New Zealand athletes step up in big moments across a wide range of sports,” said Avery.
“We’re proud of each and every athlete who gave everything to the fern this campaign and contributed to the culture and performance of the New Zealand Team.”
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol congratulated the entire New Zealand Team whānau who contributed to Glasgow 2026.
“Our athletes have represented Aotearoa New Zealand with pride, both in competition and in the way they’ve supported one another throughout the Games,” said Nicol.
“Behind every performance in Glasgow are years of work from athletes, coaches, support staff, High Performance Sport New Zealand, National Sporting Organisations, whānau and communities throughout New Zealand. We acknowledge and thank everyone who has helped support the New Zealand Team at Glasgow 2026.”
Nicol also acknowledged the support shown for the Team in Glasgow and from home.
“It’s been wonderful to see New Zealanders get behind the Team, whether here in Glasgow, at New Zealand House or from home.
“We also thank Commonwealth Sport, Glasgow 2026, the volunteers, our partners, suppliers and donors for helping make this Games experience possible for our athletes.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games brought together athletes from 74 nations and territories across 10 sports and six integrated Para sports.
New Zealand Team highlights:
Weightlifter David Liti and Judo athlete Moira de Villiers named Ngā Pou Hāpai (Flag bearer and Baton bearer) for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Lewis Clareburt won two gold medals and one silver in the pool, including gold in the 200m Butterfly with a stunning charge that rocketed him from seventh to first over the final 100m.
Erika Fairweather won five medals, equalling Danyon Loader’s mark for the most individual medals by a New Zealander at a single Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand Team swimmers won 10 medals, including two gold, five silver and three bronze.
Zoe Hobbs won gold in the women’s 100m in 10.93s, setting a new Oceania Record in wet conditions.
Emma Foy and Jessie Hodges won double gold in Para track cycling (Women’s Tandem B Sprint, Tandem B 1000m Time Trial).
Devon Briggs won gold in Men's C3 1000m Time Trial setting a Games Record.
David Liti won gold in the men’s +110kg weightlifting, taking the title by one kilogram with his final lift.
New Zealand Netball Team go unbeaten throughout the Glasgow 2026 Games, beating Jamaica in the final 56-48.
Sydnee Andrews won gold in the 78+kg division in Judo, New Zealand’s first gold in Judo since the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games.
Silver medallists:
Erika Fairweather - Women’s 400m Freestyle, Women’s 1500m Freestyle, Women’s 800m Freestyle
Lewis Clareburt - Men’s 200m Individual Medley
Joshua Willmer - Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB9
Cameron McTaggart - Men’s 88kg Weightlifting
Lauren Bruce - Women’s Hammer Throw
Tom Walsh - Men’s Shot Put
Women’s Team Pursuit (Bryony Botha, Prudence Fowler, Emily Shearman, Samantha Donnelly, Ally Wollaston)
Samantha Donnelly - Women’s Scratch Race
Tori Moorby - Women’s Javelin Throw
Bowls B6-B8 Women’s Pairs (Teri Blackbourn, Julie O’Connell)
Bowls B6-B8 Men's Pairs (Mark Noble, Kurt Smith)
Ellesse Andrews – Women's Keirin
Bronze medallists:
Erika Fairweather - Women’s 200m Freestyle
Hazel Ouwehand - Women’s 50m Butterfly
Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay (Caitlin Deans, Erika Fairweather Milana Tapper, Eve Thomas)
Women’s 3x3 Basketball (Azure Anderson, Ella Fotu, Eva Langton, Sharne Pupuke-Robati)
Nicole Murray - Women’s Individual Pursuit C4-5
Men’s Team Pursuit (Marshall Erwood, Keegan Hornblow, George Jackson, Daniel Morton, Tom Sexton)
Anna Grimaldi - Women’s 100m T47
Imogen Ayris - Women’s Pole Vault
Ellesse Andrews - Women’s Time Trial
Devon Briggs - Men’s C1 – C3 Individual Pursuit
George Jackson - Men's Points Race
Eliza McCartney named Ngā Pou Hāpai Wahine for the Closing Ceremony after winning gold in the women’s Pole Vault defeating reigning Olympic champion Nina Kennedy.