Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026: Larne Swimming Club members among first to experience medals up close

Young swimmers from Larne Swimming Club, where Hill is a development squad coach, were among the first members of the public anywhere in the Commonwealth to experience the medals up close.

It marked the first stop on the Glasgow 2026 Medal Tour, with the aim of bringing communities closer to the action ahead of this summer's Commonwealth Games.

Hosted at Larne Leisure Centre on June 24, the visit celebrated the clubs, coaches, volunteers and families who help make sporting success possible.

Hill, who represented Team Northern Ireland at the Glasgow 2014 Games when she was just 14 years old, as well as the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, spent the evening sharing her experiences of competing on the international stage and reflecting on the role Larne Swimming Club has played in her journey.

The centrepiece of the event were the Glasgow 2026 medals - a world-first design featuring braille and tactile elements, making inclusion something athletes can both see and feel.

Speaking at the event, Danielle Hill said: "Standing here at the club where my swimming journey began makes this incredibly special. Every athlete's story starts somewhere and for me it started right here in Larne.

"The Commonwealth Games has given me some of the proudest moments of my career and seeing young swimmers experience the Glasgow 2026 medal up close has been really inspiring. Hopefully it helps them realise that the path from local club swimmer to representing Northern Ireland on the international stage is possible.

"The Games are about so much more than medals. They're about communities, friendships and the people who support you every step of the way. That's what today has been all about."

The Games will take place from July 23 to August 2, 2026, with over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories across the Commonwealth to compete.

Gillian Simpson, chair of Larne Swimming Club, said: “For our swimmers, Danielle is not a visiting star, she is part of their everyday poolside life. She trains beside them, she coaches them, and she shows them through her actions what dedication, humility and hard work really look like. The young swimmers know she is in the water at 6am, putting in the same graft she asks of them, and that consistency speaks volumes.

“Seeing her share the medals was incredibly special, but the truth is that her impact goes far beyond moments like this. It is in the quiet guidance, the small corrections, the shared laughs and the steady presence she brings to Larne every single day. Danielle embodies the heart of this club, a place where world class ambition and genuine community spirit sit side by side and we are proud to have her shaping the next generation from the very pool where her own journey began.”

Conal Heatley, Chief Executive of Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland, added: “Danielle’s leadership, the work she puts in and consistent effort is an inspiration to the whole of Team Northern Ireland and we’re delighted to have her as part of the team.”