After a crushing injury before the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, sprinter Thomas Young will seek retribution on his 26th birthday.

The T38 sprinter remains one of the best in the world after a bronze at the 2025 World Championships in New Delhi, while a 2020 Paralympic gold and three European Championship titles highlight his credentials as a serial winner.

And after four years of waiting, Young has another shot at a Commonwealth medal in front of his nearest and dearest after being selected by Team England for the 2026 Games in Glasgow.

The Loughborough 100m runner said: “My injury was an uncommon one - I jumped after a race and fell over, which caused a hairline fracture in my knee, and a few ligaments needed to be rested too. 

"It was a really gutting moment because I was in such good shape back then and was one of the favourites in front of a home stadium with my family and friends in the crowd. It was a really bitter pill to swallow, so to be called up again in a Team England kit will be a special moment.

“Even though I couldn’t be involved, I was down on the track that night doing some interviews and watching my friends compete, so I was still part of the Games.

“It made me hungrier. I remember sitting there thinking I had missed my chance at a home Games, so when Australia pulled out and Glasgow stepped in for 2026, I thought this was my chance.”

Young’s career began with a bang at the 2018 European Championships in Berlin, where he scooped the T38 100m and 200m double.

He retained his 100m title in 2021 in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and a few weeks later added a Paralympic title to his trophy cabinet, but Young believes the sport has changed since then.

He said: “I got the injury in 2022 and had a few more niggles going into 2023, so by Paris came around, I was back in shape, but it took a long time. 

“New people came into the sport, and the event just got so much stronger. I didn’t get to emulate what I wanted in Paris, but I can’t dwell on the past.” 

To add to the fairytale, the 100m final takes place on 27 July, Young’s 26th birthday. And he has a succinct plan. 

He said: “Hopefully, 26 will be my best-ever birthday. Wake up, celebrate my birthday, race, then open some presents. 

“I compete very early on in the Games so after that I’ll be the ultimate fanboy. “I’m a massive sports fan and will watch anything, but my dad is a huge boxing fan, so watching the boxing will be a cool experience.”