‘Like a dream’: Saskatoon’s Jordan Carroll looks ahead after double Commonwealth win

For Jordan Carroll , walking away with two gold medals from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is still hard to believe.

“How much can you really sink it in? It still feels like a dream,” Carroll said.

The 20-year-old gymnast from Saskatoon helped Canada win gold in the team event last month before claiming another gold on the pommel horse event — his specialty — with a personal-best score of 15.000.

The success of the team competition offered Carroll a boost in confidence, saying that while he does not remember much about competing in the solo event, he knows he felt good immediately afterward.

“When I landed, I remember presenting. I showed a heart to my dad. I remember that; that was a special moment,” Carroll said, adding that his father even shed a few tears.

“He doesn’t like to admit it, but he cried,” Carroll said. “It was such a nice moment.”

Although he was born in St. John’s, N.L., Carroll has called Saskatoon home since he was one and has remained closely connected to his home club, where he has trained with coach Markos Baikas since the beginning of his gymnastics career.

“I’ve never been more proud to represent my country, my club and my province. It’s just like, it’s so fulfilling and I feel so proud,” said Carroll, adding that his club celebrated his win immediately upon his return.

“When I came back, they got balloons for me. They had this whole thing. They shook my hand. I got a little sash that said ‘champion,'” he said.

For Baikas, watching Carroll compete at the Commonwealth Games was anything but easy.

“I was here,” said Baikas, referencing being at the gym at the time of the competition. “I wasn’t watching the routine, I was very nervous.”

Baikas says Carroll has always had a natural ability for the sport, recalling a time when the young athlete stepped away from gymnastics for a few years before returning to the gym, quickly showing his potential once again.

“A year within the sport again, I said, ‘Jordan, maybe you look as you always have been there and look more natural. I think you might have the potential to compete at this high level and excel very well, maybe at the Olympic Games too,'” Baikas said.

The Commonwealth Games represent the biggest accomplishment of Carroll’s career so far, but he is not stopping there.