Commonwealth Games 2026: Neil Gourley trains sights on Glasgow glory, admits he would 'crawl' to 'most important thing that is happening this year'
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Updated 20/07/2026 at 11:20 GMT+1
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Neil Gourley is hoping the injuries that threatened to derail his season during the winter are firmly behind him, and is viewing next month's Commonwealth Games - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - as his "absolute" priority.
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The Scot broke his foot in February, not long after overcoming a knee problem, but Gourley is targeting Glasgow 2026 in his home city as the year's stand-out event - and is determined to be on the start line, whatever it takes.
With Josh Kerr absent in the US, and Jake Wightman switching focus to the 800m, the domestic picture at the UK Championships this weekend was subtly reshaped, though the middle-distance runner's attention is on building momentum rather than the opposition.
A world indoor 1500m medallist, Gourley was chasing a fourth consecutive national title in Birmingham, but he finished a disappointing sixth in the 1500m final won by England's Arlo Ludewick.
For now, however, everything else is secondary to Glasgow.
"It is absolutely the most important thing that is happening this year," the 31-year-old told the BBC before taking to the track on Sunday.
"Some of the disappointments I have had in not being able to represent in my own city are a huge part of that as well. I will be there if I have to crawl around the four laps of the track. I am doing a lot better now than I was a few months ago."
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Neil Gourley finished 10th in the 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships last September
Image credit: Getty Images
Gourley is targeting a return to full fitness after a disrupted build-up, believing he can mount a serious challenge across both the Commonwealth and European stages.
"I am starting to really see some consistency now, and thanks to the cross-training I was doing, I don't seem to be too far away from fitness," he continued.
"The challenge is to turn that all around into fitness in time for the Commonwealth Games, among other things, this summer.
"I will never shy away from the fact that I want to be at the top end of championships, and I would love to win a medal in Glasgow, but it is going to be incredibly challenging.
"I have made it harder for myself by having some of the setbacks I did this year. But if every day goes to plan between now and then, I think I will be really competitive in that final."
Despite the setbacks, Gourley insists the trajectory is improving, even if the margins are tight. Based in Arizona, he has centred his entire season around Glasgow, where expectation and opportunity converge.
Gourley clearly carries emotional weight, having twice been denied major championship opportunities on home soil due to illness and injury, thereby sharpening the significance of this summer's return.
His preparation remains uneven, but there are encouraging signs after a recent event in Marseille suggested progress is being made.
”There is still plenty to do in the next six weeks, but I am not maybe as far away as I thought,” he added.
"Nothing really compares to the importance I am putting on Glasgow this year.
"You can do too much in training and rush things, because you feel like you are behind other people, so I am trying not to get too impatient in the training.
"I am excited about competing in front of a lot more family and friends than I am used to and competing in Glasgow."
While the event in Birmingham was viewed as a key step on the road to selection, the Scot will be focused on ensuring he is in perfect condition for the start of the Commonwealth Games on 23 July.
"I'd been nursing a knee injury over the winter after I’d partially torn the tendon on my knee last year,” he said, in a separate interview conducted before the UK Athletics Championships with the Scottish Herald.
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"In building back up, there was some overcompensation perhaps, and I managed to end up with a foot injury in March, just as I thought things were starting to go well.
"I wouldn’t say I'm 100% fit and ready yet, but that will hopefully be the case by Commonwealth Games time. The plan is to be at my best then."
How to watch Glasgow 2026 on TNT Sports
The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will welcome 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories between 23 July and 2 August.
TNT Sports will show every medal being screened exclusively live on its linear channels and streaming platform - HBO Max - with Glasgow 2026 available to watch for all subscribers, starting from £4.99 a month via the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan in the United Kingdom.
WBD have the live linear and digital media rights to broadcast Glasgow 2026 with TNT Sports bringing around 600 hours of live coverage to audiences across the United Kingdom.
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is HBO Max, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes live sport and entertainment in one destination.
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