Northern Irish boxer Jon McConnell recently made headlines after turning down an invitation to appear on the popular reality television show Love Island. Instead of looking for romance on TV, the 23-year-old decided to focus entirely on his sport. His choice is already paying off at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he has reached the 70kg boxing quarter-finals and is now just one victory away from winning a medal.
McConnell had to show great determination during his match against India's Sumit Sumit. After falling behind early in the fight and losing a point, he produced a strong finish to secure a 4–1 victory. McConnell admitted that waiting a full week in Glasgow for his first match was long and repetitive, but he explained that competing in the ring is what he lives for.
Another inspiring story at the Games comes from Namibian boxer Tryagain Morning Ndevelo, who reached the quarter-finals in the men's 60kg event after a victory over Md Ruhin Reza of Bangladesh. Ndevelo's memorable name comes from his mother's advice growing up. She taught him to always show up and try again whenever he felt down, viewing every new morning as a fresh opportunity.
Before his fight against Reza, Ndevelo had an unusual start to the competition when his first-round opponent failed to show up, leaving him warming up alone in the ring. After finally getting the chance to test his preparation, both Ndevelo and McConnell are now moving forward in Glasgow with high hopes of earning a medal.