An exciting summer of sport continues, as next up on the sporting calendar is the Commonwealth Games. Held in Glasgow, the Scottish city will welcome around 74 nations from across the world to come together and compete across 10 different sporting disciplines.
Essex has a strong track record of developing high-achieving athletes and these Games are no different, with eight athletes from the county selected to represent Team England and making the trip up to Glasgow.
As part of our Summer of Sport, we’re signposting you to worldwide, nationwide and local sporting events and also encouraging you to try something new. We’re also hoping to inspire you through local athletes’ achievements, so here’s a closer look at the eight Essex athletes who will be representing Team England and going for gold from Thursday 23rd July to Sunday 2nd August.
Bebe Jackson
First up on our list of Essex stars heading to Glasgow is Bebe Jackson. The 20-year-old from Stansted is representing England in Discus under the F42-44/F61-64 classification. Born with club foot and named a rising star by Team England, Bebe claimed silver in the event at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games and has continued to impress selectors since. Her achievement at the Youth Games made her the first female English para-athlete to win a medal at the Games. She balances her life as an elite athlete with working night shifts as a children’s carer and GP surgery receptionist. Originally from Harlow and now living in Stansted, she is passionate about inspiring the young people she supports, showing them that having a disability should never limit their ambitions.
We spoke to Bebe ahead of the Games and she explained;
“It means a lot to represent England in the Commonwealth Games. I’m going into these Games with quite an open mindset. Discus is not my main event but I’m really excited to take in the experience and meet people from different sports.”
Charlie Dobson
While Bebe prepares for the field events, Colchester sprinter Charlie Dobson will be looking to build on his Olympic success on the track. Charlie has established himself as one of Britain’s leading 400m athletes through a combination of national success and major international achievements. His international breakthrough came at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he played a key role in Great Britain’s bronze medal-winning men’s 4x400m relay team, demonstrating his strength on the global stage.
Domestically, he has continued to perform at a high level, including securing another podium finish at the 2026 UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham, where he took bronze in the 400m. Together, these achievements highlight Charlie’s consistency, progression, and ability to compete at the very highest level of the sport. He will be competing in the Mixed 4×400 metre relay in Glasgow.
Didi Okoh
Didi Okoh, from Chelmsford, secured a share of the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games after a thrilling photo finish in the T63 100m final at the Stade de France, marking a remarkable podium finish on her Paralympic debut. Didi began competing in athletics in 2012, taking part in a series of mini marathons at Lee Valley. She made her international Para athletics debut in Jesolo, Italy, winning the 100m final and competing in the shot-put event, an impressive introduction that set the stage for her first Paralympic Games.
A law student at the University of Birmingham, Didi has always had a passion for running. Living with primary lymphedema, she first became aware of her disability while attending an athletics event in Chelmsford, when a friend noticed a difference in the size of her legs. After initially being misdiagnosed by her GP as having swelling caused by a muscle injury, she underwent a year of medical appointments before specialists at Great Ormond Street Hospital correctly diagnosed her with the rare condition. Didi will be competing alongside fellow Essex para-athlete Bebe in the Discus competition under the F42-44/F61-64 classification.
Erin Little
Erin Little from Maldon discovered art as an escape from the demands of a highly competitive swimming career during her time as a student. The talented swimmer was a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay team that claimed gold at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. Strong performances at this year’s Aquatics GB Swimming Championships have since earned her a place in Team England’s Commonwealth Games squad for Glasgow. Now competing and studying at Ohio State University in the United States, Erin has continued to impress both in the pool and academically, collecting a number of accolades throughout her first two years of study.
“I have so many fond memories from Tollcross, so I’m really excited to be heading back there this summer. It’s my first senior meet so I’m so excited to experience the atmosphere and see what that’s like. I also think it would be a good opportunity for me to learn from the more experienced girls.”
Isaac Okoh
Isaac Okoh, from Chadwell St Mary has been selected to represent Team England in the boxing event at the Games. Isaac has recently found success, winning the 2025 Tammer Tournament before taking silver and the World Boxing Cup in China earlier this year. Mastering his craft whilst also working as a sparring partner of two-time World Heavyweight Champion professional boxer Anthony Joshua, English boxer Isaac hopes the Commonwealth Games can help take him further on his route to achieve his ambition of becoming a successful pro.
“Being selected for the Commonwealth Games means a lot to me as it’s always been a dream of mine since I was a kid starting boxing, and it would be an amazing achievement and point in my career to win a medal at the Games. I’m really looking forward to the opening ceremony and also staying in the athlete’s village. I would like to say to everyone back home in Essex thank you for the continued support, and to all other athletes and young aspiring athletes, stick at it and if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything.”
Jack Skerry
Jack Skerry from Chelmsford is set to make his Team England debut at Glasgow 2026. The talented swimmer enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2025, claiming gold in the 100m backstroke at the European Under-23 Championships before stepping up to represent Great Britain at the European Short-Course Championships later that year. A student at the University of Bath, Jack combines his computer science studies with elite-level training and is a member of the Aquatics GB World Class Programme. He will now look to build on his recent success as he takes to the international stage for Team England.
Kieran O’Hara
Living with autism, Kieran O’Hara has developed into one of Essex’s leading para middle-distance athletes, competing across a range of events from 400m to 1500m while also representing Essex in cross country competition. Training with Havering Athletic Club since his teenage years, he has built an impressive athletics career through consistent commitment and a love of running, earning opportunities to compete nationally and internationally. Beyond his sporting success, Kieran is a passionate volunteer with Sport for Confidence in Basildon, helping to create inclusive opportunities for others to be active and enjoy sport.
“It’s something different and exciting, and will be the biggest competition I’ve been in. It will be fun staying with the England Team in Glasgow, but my main aim is just to enjoy the Commonwealth Games. Medals and PBs are nice, I might get one or I might not, it depends on the day. But the main thing is to do my best.”
Samuel Bennett
Samuel Bennett who lives in and competes for Basildon has earned selection for Team England for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow following a remarkable return to form in the 110m hurdles. The Essex athlete secured his place after winning the UK Athletics Championships in a personal best time of 13.41 seconds, having also recorded another personal best earlier in the season. Bennett’s selection is a testament to his resilience and determination, overcoming a serious knee injury that sidelined him for months and threatened his season. A former Commonwealth Youth Games and European Under-18 champion, Samuel will now represent England on one of the sport’s biggest stages, marking a significant milestone in his athletics career and rewarding years of hard work and perseverance.
“Getting the call telling me I’d been selected to represent Team England was really special and very relieving. I think that all the hard work I put on this year and obviously years previously is coming to fruition. I’m excited to get out there and show everyone what I’ve got.”
Each individual journey demonstrates the power of sport to inspire, overcome barriers and bring communities together. Whether you’re following the action from home or feeling motivated to try a new activity yourself, Active Essex will be celebrating and bringing you every success from Glasgow throughout the summer.
Being selected to represent your country is a huge achievement and something each individual should be incredibly proud of. With eight athletes from Essex making the trip up to Glasgow, we can’t wait to keep a close eye on how they get on.
