Iain Wilson will have one of the shortest journeys to competition at Glasgow 2026, with the weightlifter living just one train stop from the SEC Armadillo. The 79kg athlete has been selected for his first Commonwealth Games and is looking forward to competing in front of family and friends on home soil.
Short Commute to the Venue
For weightlifter Iain Wilson, the upcoming Commonwealth Games are as close to home as it gets. He lives just one train stop away from Glasgow’s SEC Armadillo, where the weightlifting action will take place. Wilson has been named to represent Team Scotland at his first Commonwealth Games and will enjoy a much shorter trip to the venue than most.
“I’m from Glasgow so I just stay locally,” said Wilson, who is set to compete in the 79kg category. “I'm hoping all my close family will be there and a lot of my school and uni friends because I've pretty much lived in Glasgow my whole life.
“I went to Uni there so I've got a good support group that will be able to come and watch.”
From Athletics to Weightlifting
Wilson only began his weightlifting journey in 2022, after the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Before transitioning to weightlifting, he had been a sprinter and a hurdler, which has helped with his pre-lift mental preparation.
“One of the things I struggled with in athletics was that I used to get really nervous,” Wilson said. “Being in the blocks at the start line used to overwhelm me a bit.
“Coming to weightlifting, where you get three attempts to clean and jerk and three attempts at snatch, has been a lot easier. I've never really had the same nervous experience when I've been competing, it's always been more about enjoyment.”
Rapid Progression
Wilson represented Senior Scotland at the 2026 British Championships in May and regularly competes in the Celtic Nations Championships. While he has always had his sights set on the Commonwealth Games, the opportunity has arrived sooner than expected.
“I had my eyes set on the next one, which is in 2030,” he added. “When I was sprinting, I would lift once a week, but just very light stuff. But I knew I was always really good at it, so when I actually started competing, I had quite a quick progression.
“I always believed to some extent that I would eventually get to this level.”
Balancing Work and Sport
Alongside his weightlifting career, Wilson works as a full-time mechanical engineer in Glasgow city centre. And qualifying for the Commonwealth Games has brought a need to be shrewd with his use of annual leave.
“I'm running out of holiday,” said Wilson. “I think I'll have one holiday left for the rest of the year. Weightlifting is my hobby. Coming to the gym at the end of the day provides stress relief and enjoyment.
“I enjoy training because that's where you're going to do all the work. The competition is the reward at the end of it. I want to get a good, consistent performance at the competition, and just enjoy it.”
Follow Team Scotland's journey at Glasgow 2026 at @team_scotland on Instagram.
