Commonwealth Games: Frustrated Max Litchfield switches focus to Paris after Glasgow frustrations

MAX LITCHFIELD admits the Commonwealth buzz may have got the better of him after a disappointing display in Glasgow.

The Pontefract swimmer, 31, was unable to claim a medal in his favoured 400m individual medley event with a below-par fifth-place finish.

EDGED OUT: Pontefract's Max Litchfield, pictured competing in the men's 400m Individual Medley heat at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA.

placeholder image — EDGED OUT: Pontefract's Max Litchfield, pictured competing in the men's 400m Individual Medley heat at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA.

Litchfield touched the Tollcross wall almost three seconds off the podium pace as New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt grabbed gold ahead of Australian William Petric and Canadian Lorne Wigginton.

Litchfield started the week in Glasgow with a fifth-place finish in the 200m individual medley – his lesser preferred event – before being part of the England team to win 4x200m freestyle relay silver.

NOT QUITE: Pontefract's Max Litchfield competes in the Men's 200m Individual Medley Final in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

This was his first Commonwealth experience since being in the same city 12 years ago and he says the excitement of the occasion may have taken its toll.

“I just wasn’t good enough on the day,” said Litchfield, who was forced to withdraw from the previous two Games in the Gold Coast and Birmingham.

“I tried to be as relaxed as I could throughout and in the preparation for tonight – I felt this week I got a bit excited before the race, and a bit ahead of myself.

“I tried to relax as much as I could and be in a good spot for the 200m, which I think I was, but the back end just wasn’t there.

“I’ve had a few things go wrong this year in the lead-up that haven’t been ideal – so I’ll look back and learn from them and go from there.

“I’m not quite as experienced in the 200m individual medley – it’s not my main event so I have to be up for it.

“The 4x200m was insane and an amazing experience to be part of.

“It’s just so good to be back here on the Commonwealth stage after 12 years – it’s an honour to be here.”

Litchfield is one of 251 Team England athletes here in Glasgow supported by National Lottery funding, with Sport England investment for Glasgow totalling an approximate 9.5m.

He will now turn his attention to the European Championships in Paris, which get underway later this week.

And he hopes lessons learned from Glasgow can fire him to bigger things across the Channel.

“Maybe there’s something in training we need to be do to work on that back end of the race,” he added.

“In all three of my races I’ve struggled in the closing stages.

“We’ll take a look at that and hopefully put those things right at the Europeans.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33m is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.