Libby Clegg denied Commonwealth Games title defence

Capital sprinter Libby Clegg will not get the chance to defend her 100 metres title at the next Commonwealth Games after her event was left off the Parasport programme for the Gold Coast 2018.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Mar 2016, 13:01 BST
Updated 14th Mar 2016, 13:11 BST
Libby Clegg secured gold at Glasgow in 2014Libby Clegg secured gold at Glasgow in 2014
Libby Clegg secured gold at Glasgow in 2014

Organisers announced yesterday that 38 medal events will be inserted across seven sports, including the addition of triathlon, table tennis and a wheelchair marathon in athletics. But, while Clegg’s visually-impaired category has been omitted, East Lothian’s teenage prospect Maria Lyle is set for a showdown with Isi Holt, the Australian who twice beat her to gold at last year’s IPC World Championships, with the addition of a T35 100m.

“Glasgow 2014 moved the Para-Sport programme on to a new level and it is great to see Gold Coast’s commitment to inclusion go even further, with the introduction of two new sports and even more medal opportunities,” said Commonwealth Games Scotland CEO Jon Doig. “It is fantastic that a number of Parasport athletes who competed in Glasgow will get another opportunity to be selected for Team Scotland, but it is particularly unfortunate that Libby Clegg’s event is no longer on the programme.”

Medals will also be up for grabs in track cycling, swimming, bowls and power-lifting.

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