Penzance Para-Athlete Samuel Jose Selected for Commonwealth Games

Out of every para-athlete in the country pushing for a place at Glasgow 2026, only 20 got the call. One of them learned to jump at a leisure centre in Carn Brea.

Samuel Jose, 24, from Penzance has been selected as one of only 20 para-athletes to represent England at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Sam is a T20 elite long jumper, and Glasgow 2026 will be his fifth England call-up and his first major Games debut. He is a national champion in the T20 long jump and was first selected for the England team in 2025 for the World Para Grand Prix in Paris, where he finished sixth.

From Carn Brea to Glasgow

Sam started training with Cornwall Athletics Club at Carn Brea Leisure Centre when he was 14. He is now supported by England Athletics on their Senior Development Programme and the Para Academy. His lead coach is his mum, Helen Jose, alongside Cornwall AC coaches Stuart Caudery and Neil Tunstall and London-based jumps coach John Shepherd.

“This means the world to Sam,” said Helen. “Lots of work and sacrifices have gone into making this happen, including travelling hundreds of miles to competitions over the winter before the qualification period ended.”

The support behind the selection

Sam is a GLL Sports Foundation (GSF) athlete and will again be presented with his Top Up award at a special ceremony at Callywith College in Bodmin later this month. Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that runs nine leisure centres in Cornwall on behalf of Cornwall Council.

GSF benefits include free access to Better training facilities throughout the country, physiotherapy services and mental health support.

“We are very grateful for the help GSF provides as training six days a week is financially challenging,” said Helen. “Athletics have given Sam confidence, friends and a sense of belonging.

“I am so proud of him.”

The para long jump competition will take place at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on 28th July.

“Huge congratulations to Sam on getting selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games,” said Karen Edmond, GLL Community Sport Manager. “We’re looking forward to watching him in the competition and wish him every success. What he has achieved is amazing.”

GLL became an official partner of Commonwealth Games England earlier this year and will now play a major role in connecting communities to Team England in the lead-up to the Games.

For more, see Team England and GLL join forces for Glasgow 2026 and the GLL Sport Foundation.