In the four years since Muzala Samukonga announced himself to the Athletics world as a 19-year-old at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, he has become the face of sport in his country.
Samukonga ended Zambia’s 26-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal with his thrilling gold-winning run in the Men’s 400m in Birmingham, and he is eager to defend his title at the EDF Scotstoun Stadium.
“I’m more than ready. Back then I was just starting on the global stage, and god did it for me,” Samukonga (pictured) said.
“I went back home with a medal and I was a champion, and I’m looking forward to doing my level best at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
Samukonga has already shown he is no stranger to pressure, rising above the noise to chase down local favourite Matthew Hudson-Smith in the final four years ago.
Since that win, opportunities have come thick and fast back home. Samukonga has become a public speaker, mentor and influencer for the next generation of African track stars, and has been busy building Zambia’s first athletics academy.
He has also powered forward on the track, claiming the Men’s 400m bronze with his personal-best time of 43.74 seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – when, just as in Glasgow, he was Zambia’s flagbearer.
“It meant a lot because competing at the Olympics is not an easy thing,” Samukonga, currently ranked sixth in the world, said.
“Just qualifying in itself, I gained a lot of experience. So I’m more than proud of myself – a first appearance at the Olympics and I went home with a medal.”
Kerr wants to cap ‘great couple of weeks’
The return of the Commonwealth Mile after a 60-year hiatus promises to be another standout moment of the Glasgow 2026 Athletics competition.
Scotland’s Josh Kerr arrives as the overwhelming favourite after sensationally setting a world record for the mile at the Diamond League meeting in London earlier in July.
His time of three minutes 42.66 lopped 0.47 seconds off the previous best mark, held for 27 years by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj.