MATTHEW Redfern admits he left everything in the pool to win bronze on his Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2026.
Droitwich para swimmer Redfern won bronze for Team England in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 to mark his Commonwealth Games bow with a medal.
The 27-year-old touched the wall in 56.86 seconds to earn a place on the podium at Tollcross International Swimming Centre in Glasgow.
South Africa’s Nathan Hendricks took gold in 54.54 seconds while Scotland’s Stephen Clegg clinched silver in his home pool.
Redfern said: “I’m really happy with that – I wanted to go out strong, hold on and then whatever I’ve got in the last 15m just throw at the wall.
“I left everything out there and I’m really happy with the outcome.
“I’m really excited – the pressure of seeing your name early on during the first day is a different kind of pressure – everyone is watching and they’re all there.
“To come away with a medal, means I am really happy.”
Redfern qualified fifth fastest for the final after recording a time of 58.07 seconds in the heats.
However, the Droitwich para swimmer saved his best performance for the final as he shaved more than a second off his time in the heats to win bronze.
He returns to the pool on Tuesday, July 28 in the 50m freestyle S13 heats at 12.27pm.
Redfern is competing in Glasgow alongside his sister Rebecca.
Both swimmers have the same degenerative eye condition known as retinitis pigmentosa.
Rebecca also takes to the pool on Tuesday just minutes before her brother at 12.23pm in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 heats.
Fellow Droitwich swimmer Matt Richards is also competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games representing Wales.
Richards will race in the men’s 100m freestyle heats at 11.28am on Monday, July 27 and returns to the pool for the 200m freestyle heats on Wednesday, July 29 at 11.02am.
