Defenders, debutants and world champions: 49 VIS athletes set for Glasgow 2026

The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) will send 49 supported athletes to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with athletes confirmed across athletics, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, judo, netball, boxing and wheelchair basketball, as the institute prepares for one of the most significant multi-sport events on the calendar. The group brings together first‑time Commonwealth Games representatives, returning campaigners with past Games experience and several defending Commonwealth champions from Birmingham 2022. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 2 August in Glasgow, Scotland.

In the pool

Seven VIS‑aligned athletes have been selected in the Australian swimming squads for Glasgow: Col Pearse, Ella Ramsay, Henry Allan, Tara Kinder, Sam Williamson, William Petric and Zac Stubblety‑Cook. Para swimmer Col Pearse, gold medallist in the men’s 100m Butterfly S10 at Birmingham 2022, brings proven Games pedigree alongside debutants Allan, Kinder and Petric, while Ramsay steps up for her second Commonwealth Games campaign. Breaststroker Sam Williamson, a multiple medallist at Birmingham 2022, and Olympic champion Zac Stubblety‑Cook headline a breaststroke group that will again be central to Australia’s medal hopes in Glasgow.

On the track and field

A strong VIS athletics cohort will compete in Glasgow, spanning middle-distance, sprints, jumps, walks, throws and multi-events. Middle-distance stars Abbey Caldwell, Adam Spencer and Claudia Hollingsworth line up in the mile, with Caldwell returning after winning bronze in the 1500m at Birmingham 2022. The wider squad features Brooke Buschkuehl and Christopher Mitrevski in the long jump, Yual Reath in the high jump, and a deep endurance group including Declan Tingay and Jemima Montag in the 10,000m walks, Lauren Ryan in the 10,000m and Seth O’Donnell in the 5000m. Sprinter Mia Gross contests the 200m, Thomas Reynolds the 400m and Cooper Sherman the mixed 4 x 400m relay, while Stephanie Ratcliffe represents Australia in the hammer throw. In the multi-events, Mia Scerri competes in the heptathlon, and distance star Linden Hall lines up in the 5000m. VIS athletes also feature prominently in Para athletics events. Michal Burian will contest the men’s discus F42–44/F61–64, Daniel Milone races the men’s 100m T20 and VIS Para Sport Unit’s Thomas McGough steps onto the track in the men’s 100m T38.

In the velodrome and on the track

Six VIS cyclists and Para cyclists are set to compete at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
On the track, Alessia McCaig and Alyssa Polites feature in women’s endurance and sprint events respectively, while Blake Agnoletto races in men’s endurance. In Para cycling, Erin Rowell and Tara Neyland contest the women’s C4–5 classification, with Jessica Gallagher returning in the women’s tandem B event as one of Australia’s most decorated multi‑sport Paralympians and a reigning Commonwealth champion.

On the floor and apparatus

Three VIS artistic gymnasts have been named in the Australian team for Glasgow: Emily Whitehead, Breanna Scott and Kate McDonald. Whitehead, a multiple Commonwealth Games medallist across Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022, leads the contingent as one of the squad’s most experienced performers. Scott, a Birmingham silver medallist, and McDonald, who captured balance beam gold and another medal at Birmingham 2022, return with podium experience and the opportunity to add further medals to their records.

On the mat

Five VIS judokas will take to the mat in Glasgow, headlined by defending Commonwealth champions Aoife Coughlan and Tinka Easton. Coughlan, the Birmingham 2022 gold medallist in the women’s 70kg category, returns to defend her title and is joined by her sister Maeve Coughlan, who makes her Commonwealth Games debut in the women’s 63kg division. Easton, the reigning Commonwealth champion in the women’s 52kg, also returns to defend her crown, while Maria Swan (women’s 78kg) and Danny Vojnikovich (men’s 90kg) will each make their Games debuts.

On court

Four VIS netballers will represent the Australian Diamonds in Glasgow: Joanna (Jo) Weston, Kate Moloney, Kiera Austin and Sophie Garbin. Weston, Moloney and Austin bring extensive international experience and were part of the Diamonds side that claimed gold at Birmingham 2022 after the Australian team had won silver at the Gold Coast 2018 Games. Garbin will join the trio and take to the court as a key member of the team chasing back‑to‑back Commonwealth Games titles.

In the ring

Jacob Cassar will make his Commonwealth Games debut in the men’s welterweight (65kg) boxing division in Glasgow. The Victorian boxer, supported by the VIS, joins an Australian boxing team that blends debutants and experienced campaigners across the weight categories.

On the court in wheelchair basketball

VIS athlete Tomas Klein has been selected in Australia’s wheelchair basketball squad for Glasgow 2026.
The 3 x 3 wheelchair basketball format will make a high‑profile return at Glasgow 2026, offering athletes like Klein a major multi‑sport stage to showcase their skills.

VIS ATHLETES COMPETING AT THE GLASGOW 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES