Australia Names 18-Strong Para Swim Team for 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Australia Names 18-Strong Para Swim Team for 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

A 27-year-old who will make her fourth Commonwealth Games appearance and a 14-year-old rookie are among Australia’ 18-strong Dolphins Para Swim team named today for this year’s Games in Glasgow.

Paralympic golden girl Lakeisha Patterson (USC Spartans, QLD) will return to Glasgow some 12 years after making her international debut as a 15-year-old in the Scottish capital in 2014.

Patterson won bronze in 2014, before winning double gold on the Gold Coast in 2018, a finalist on her third team in Birmingham in 2022, who will contest the 100m freestyle in the S9 category in 2026.

The celebrated elder-stateswoman of para swimming in Australia has, “Lucky” has gone on to win seven Paralympic medals in Rio, Tokyo and Paris – winning back-to-back 400m freestyles in 2016 and 2020, before taking silver in Paris in 2024.

“It’s always an honour to wear the green and gold and representing Australia at my fourth Commonwealth Games is special,” Patterson said.

“The Commonwealth Games is the only time on the international stage we get to compete alongside our able-bodied friends, and we have more classifications on offer this time around.

“And I am so excited to have 14-year-old Mia Hogan on the team, who is basically the same age as me when I made my Australian debut!”

At 14, Albury, NSW’s Hogan is the baby of the team (for the moment) and will contest the 50 and 100m freestyle in the S13 category.

“I am so excited to join the Dolphins at the Commonwealth Games, to wear the green and gold, it’s something I’ve dreamed about,” Hogan said.

“I’ve learned so much from the more experienced swimmers… I’ve already known ‘Lucky’ and I’ve met Lani Pallister, and I’m really looking forward to joining them on the team and racing on such a big stage.”

Commonwealth Games Australia has today named an 18-strong Dolphins team for this year’s Games in Glasgow.

bookended with proven stars and sprinkled with seven rookies – has been selected to wear the green and gold in Para Swimming at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The team named by Commonwealth Games Australia today also includes three-times Gold Coast and Birmingham Games gold medallist Tim Hodge OAM (Blacktown, NSW) and Birmingham gold medallist Col Pearse (Nunawading, VIC),

Hogan is one of seven exciting debutants in a group that also features NSW 16‑year‑olds Gemma Sellick (Warringah Aquatic) and Liam Togher (Knox Pymble)

To date, Hogan is the youngest member of the Australian Commonwealth Games Team and has impressed with her rapid rise through the ranks.

Australian Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM OLY said the team embodies the values and spirit of Australian sport.

“Australian swimming has a proud history at the Commonwealth Games, and the Para Swimming squad for Glasgow will build on that legacy with incredible performances no doubt,” Thomas said.

“I commend those confirmed today, acknowledge the tireless effort of their coaches, support staff, friends and family behind the scenes and look forward to welcoming their able-bodied Dolphins counterparts to the Team next month.”

Swimming Australia National Head Coach of the Paralympic Program Mel Tantrum said she was excited about the balance of the Para athletes.

“There is so much experience and youth in this team … from Tim, Col and Lucky through to Mia and all our debutants and the likes of Kirralee Hayes returning to the team – her first Australian team since Birmingham,” Tantrum said.

“For us we’re expecting a full medal sweep in some events and across the board we are expecting to be a very competitive team.”

AUSTRALIAN PARA SWIMMING TEAM – GLASGOW 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

The selection announcement today is the first of two for Swimming Australia at Glasgow 2026.

A full team announcement for swimming will follow at the close of the Australian Swimming Trials on 13 June.