England’s Mark Swan powerlifts to Commonwealth Games’ first gold by fraction of a point

Swan edges out Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike ‘I thought I got third, I didn’t realise I won’ Mark Swan of England claimed the first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games after one of the closest finishes imaginable in the men’s lightweight para powerlifting competition. The 25-year-old lifted 222kg – more than three times his body weight and roughly the equivalent of bench pressing a grand piano – to finish level with Nigeria’s Roland Ezuruike, 50, on 153.9 points after the second round of lifts. Continue reading...