Gulveer Singh scripted history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 2 August, claiming a bronze medal in the Men's 5000m to become the first Indian athlete to win two track and field medals in a single edition of the Commonwealth Games. The 28-year-old Army runner clocked 13:24.95 in the final, adding to the silver he had already secured in the Men's 10,000m with a time of 27:49.78.

How the 5000m Final Unfolded

Kenya's Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang took gold in 13:23.61, while Australia's Ky Robinson claimed silver in 13:24.70. Gulveer finished just 0.25 seconds behind Robinson to secure the bronze. The race was a study in tactical patience — Gulveer ran tucked in eighth place at the end of the first lap, covering the opening 400m in 1:10.6.

He accelerated through the second lap, completing it in 1:06.4 and moving up to fourth at the 1000m mark. He dipped to seventh near the halfway stage before recovering to fifth entering the final lap, then unleashed a decisive sprint to cross the line third in 13 minutes 24.95 seconds.

A Historic Double in Glasgow

No Indian athlete had previously won two medals in track and field events at a single Commonwealth Games. Gulveer's silver in the 10,000m had already broken new ground; the 5000m bronze cemented his status as India's premier distance runner on the global stage. This comes amid a remarkable run of form — at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, he swept double gold in the 5000m and 10,000m.

The Making of a Record-Breaker

Gulveer's journey began on village roads and farmland trails in Atrauli, Uttar Pradesh, where he trained for recruitment into the Indian Army. After enlisting in The Grenadiers Regiment in 2018, he rose steadily through the ranks of Indian athletics. His international breakthrough came with a bronze in the 5000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, followed by a bronze in the 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games.

A prolific record-setter, Gulveer holds Indian national records in the 5000m, 10,000m, one mile, and half marathon. In 2025, he became the first Indian to run a sub-4-minute mile, clocking 3:55.63, and the first Indian to complete a half marathon in under 60 minutes with a time of 59:42. He also set an Asian record indoors, clocking 12:59.77 for 5000m to become the first Asian athlete to break the 13-minute barrier. He trains regularly at the high-performance centre in Colorado Springs.

What This Means for Indian Athletics

Gulveer's Glasgow double is the most significant haul by an Indian male distance runner at a major multi-sport event and signals a structural shift in India's track capabilities. Notably, distance running has historically been a weak zone for Indian athletics at the Commonwealth level. His achievements have elevated India's presence on the global distance-running stage and established him as one of the country's strongest medal prospects heading into future international championships.