With the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, once again the world of sports is focusing on elite athletes, with Australia in the lead in the medal tally and athletes like Mirabai Chanu, Dilip Mahadu Gavit, Murali Sreeshankar, Sharmila Dhankar, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Adam Peaty making waves. Besides the present Commonwealth Games, there is another focus area for fans - the best athlete couples who have made a mark in the Commonwealth Games.
There have been many such pairs of athletes, including badminton pairs winning Commonwealth titles together, cycling athletes ruling their disciplines as individual athletes, and India's legendary badminton couple. There have been some common ways in which the couple created legacies. Chris and Gabby Adcock had won several mixed doubles titles for England. On the other hand, Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny had become one of Britain's finest cycling couples by individually performing at their best.
The Commonwealth Games' Most Memorable Sporting Couples
1. Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap are undoubtedly one of the most accomplished couples in Commonwealth Games history, boasting an impressive total of 10 medals between them. Their journey began back in 1997 at Pullela Gopichand's academy, where they trained side by side. While they started dating around 2009-10, they kept their relationship under wraps to stay focused on their badminton careers. They tied the knot on December 14, 2018, and even though they parted ways in July 2025, their connection remains significant in the sports world.
The duo showcased their talents at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014, and Gold Coast 2018. They played a vital role in India's mixed team events, securing two team medals together. Saina shone brightly with five CWG medals, including gold in women's singles in both 2010 and 2018, as well as a mixed team gold in 2018. Kashyap matched her success with five medals of his own, highlighted by a stellar gold in men's singles at Glasgow 2014.
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2. Chris Adcock and Gabby Adcock
Chris Adcock and Gabby Adcock have become one of the most well-known badminton duos in England, transforming their teenage partnership into a remarkable international career. They tied the knot on September 20, 2013, just under a year before they made waves at the Glasgow Games.
Together, they competed in the Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014, and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. The couple clinched two gold medals in mixed doubles and racked up a total of seven medals between them. Chris brought home four medals overall, while Gabby secured three, making them one of the rare couples to achieve multiple Commonwealth Games titles as teammates.
3. Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny
Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny are widely known for their Olympic achievements, but they also delivered notable performances for Team England at the Commonwealth Games. Their relationship became public during the London 2012 Olympics, and they married on 24 September 2016.
They represented England at Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022. Because Commonwealth track cycling events were separated by gender, they did not win medals together in the same event. Even so, they finished with five combined CWG medals. Laura secured three medals, including two golds, while Jason added two silver medals to the family's Commonwealth record.
