For Jordan Carroll, a gymnast originally from N.L., his second gold medal win at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games still doesn’t feel real.
The Commonwealth Games are an international sporting event held every four years for the 56 states that are a part of the Commonwealth of Nations, which includes Canada.
Jordan, a 20-year-old who currently lives in Saskatchewan, said competing in the games has been a goal of his and he came into it prepared to win — that’s how he knew halfway through his pommel horse routine he had accomplished what he came to do.
“I knew it was going to be a huge score,” Carroll told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show.
On July 27 he completed his routine, twisting and turning on two handles attached to a beam, with a score of 15.000, which Carroll said is considered an elite number in the gymnastics world.
It was Carroll’s second medal secured at Glasgow, as he was part of the team that won gold in the men’s team gymnastics event.
Watching him from the stands as he struck the high score were his mother and father, Mary and Steve Carroll. Having them there was huge, Carroll said. He even considers it a full circle moment as his mother previously won a gold medal for diving at the Commonwealth Games.
“There was a link there and I could tell that she was just so proud,” said Carroll.
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While Carroll was able to keep his wits about him on the games floor, his father, Steve Carroll said he couldn’t contain himself, adding he felt something special was going to happen going into the competition.
“It was just so thrilling to be there,” said Steve Carroll. “It was really a cool feeling from start to finish.”
Watching his son is something Steve Carroll loves and not just because he is a talented athlete but because of his sportsmanship. He said whether his son wins or loses, he will sit on the sidelines and cheer everyone on.
“That’s what he does whether he falls off the pommel or nails his routine,” said Steve Carroll.
Jordan Carroll wins the pommel horse final to claim his 2nd gold medal at Glasgow 2026
Steve Carroll said the family moved away from N.L. to support their son’s ambition of someday competing in the Olympics.
Last year Carroll competed in the province, winning nine medals at the Canada Games in St. John’s.
Right now, the Olympics is something Carroll is training for.
“I want to be the best,” he said. “The Olympics have been my dream forever.”
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