Ghanaian swimmer Abeku Jackson continued his impressive showing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games by setting a new national record in the men’s 50m butterfly, although he narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
The 26-year-old clocked an impressive 24.03 seconds in the heats, breaking Ghana’s national record in the event. However, the time was not enough to secure qualification for the final.
It marks Jackson’s second national record of the Games, underlining his outstanding form in Glasgow.
Earlier in the competition, the two-time Olympian rewrote Ghana’s record in the men’s 50m backstroke after posting a time of 26.48 seconds, eclipsing the previous national mark of 26.84 seconds. He finished seventh in his heat, narrowly missing qualification for the semi-finals.
Jackson’s performances further reinforce his reputation as Ghana’s premier swimmer. He has represented the country at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and boasts an impressive medal haul from the African Championships and African Games.
The experienced swimmer also enjoyed success at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, where he reached the semi-finals of both the men’s 50m and 100m butterfly events.
Although he fell short of reaching the 50m butterfly final in Glasgow, Jackson leaves the Games with two new national records, a testament to his consistency and continued excellence on the international stage while providing another significant boost for Ghanaian swimming.
