Glasgow 2026 provides valuable markers on the road to LA2028

One of Eddie’s key takeaways was the encouraging performances delivered by several athletes and teams considered strong prospects for LA2028.

“Across a number of sports, athletes produced credible, world-class performances and achieved important benchmarks that indicate positive progression towards future podium ambitions,” says Eddie.

“Some of our likely LA campaigns performed credibly, with a number of athletes putting down performance markers that demonstrate a significant trajectory towards LA.”

Eddie also emphasises the important role the Commonwealth Games continue to play within the wider high performance pathway.

“While athletes and teams are ultimately building toward pinnacle events such as World Championships, Paralympic Games and Olympic Games, Glasgow represented a major competition in its own right and an important milestone within longer-term performance plans.”

For some sports, including swimming and cycling, the Games took place within a particularly busy international calendar, providing a valuable opportunity to test preparation, performance and competitive readiness ahead of other key events later in the season.

“The Commonwealth Games formed an important part of athletes’ annual progression, offering meaningful international racing and benchmarking opportunities while contributing to broader campaign development.”

Beyond the results, Eddie highlights the way NZ Team athletes and support staff came together in a unique Games environment.

Despite Glasgow operating differently from a traditional multi-sport Games, he was impressed by the way Kiwi athletes connected, supported one another and represented New Zealand on and off the field of play.

“In true Kiwi fashion, the teams bonded well and represented New Zealand exceptionally well,” he says.

For HPSNZ, Glasgow 2026 delivered both valuable performance indicators and confidence that many campaigns are building momentum as the journey towards LA2028 continues.