Image: Adelaide Thunderbirds
Twenty-five South Australian athletes are preparing to represent Australia on one of sport’s biggest stages as the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games officially get underway.
The group accounts for almost 10 per cent of Australia’s 255-member team and includes some of the state’s most decorated competitors alongside 13 athletes making their Commonwealth Games debut. Seventeen of the South Australian contingent are current or former South Australian Sports Institute scholarship holders.
South Australian athletes will compete across athletics and para athletics, track cycling, artistic gymnastics, netball, swimming and para swimming, and weightlifting.
Among the biggest names is Port Lincoln-born swimming champion Kyle Chalmers, who heads into his third Commonwealth Games with seven gold medals already to his name. The 27-year-old will attempt to defend his men’s 100m freestyle title while competing alongside fellow South Australian swimmers Matthew Temple, Brittany Castelluzzo, Jasmin Fullgrabe and Games debutant Molly Walker.
Walker earned her place on the Australian Dolphins team after swimming a personal best of 8:26.01 in the women’s 800m freestyle at the national trials, securing her first senior international appearance.
Pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall is also returning for his third Games and will attempt to claim an extraordinary third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal.
He will be joined in the athletics squad by Timothy Fraser, Elizabeth McMillen, Marley Raikiwasa and 200m runner Aidan Murphy, who is among the state’s exciting Games newcomers.
South Australia will be particularly well represented on the cycling track, with 10 SA-linked competitors selected.
Birmingham 2022 gold medallists Leigh Hoffman and Sophie Edwards return alongside previous Games medallists Thomas Cornish, Conor Leahy and James Moriarty. Rising sprint talent Tayte Ryan will make his senior Commonwealth Games debut after winning multiple gold medals at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Adelaide Thunderbirds stars Georgie Horjus and Matilda Garrett will make their Commonwealth Games debuts with the Australian Diamonds, while experienced defender Sarah Klau returns after helping Australia win gold in Birmingham.
Garrett and Horjus head to Glasgow fresh from helping the Thunderbirds secure their third Super Netball premiership in four seasons.
Artistic gymnast Jesse Moore will compete at his second Games and take on a leadership role within the Australian men’s team, while Kiana Elliott will make her second Commonwealth Games appearance in the women’s 63kg weightlifting competition.
Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Rhiannon Pearce said the contingent demonstrated South Australia’s ability to produce and support athletes capable of competing internationally.
“Our State has a proud history of producing world-class athletes. Seeing so many selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games makes us all proud,” Minister Pearce said.
“We have such a strong mix of experienced champions and emerging talent, demonstrating our strength at nurturing high-performance athletes.
“I hope they all have a great Games and know that we will all be back home in South Australia barracking for them.”
SASI Director Keren Faulkner said the selections reflected years of work by the athletes and the people supporting them.
“Their selection reflects years of dedication from the athletes, coaches and performance support staff, and reinforces the important role SASI plays in developing athletes capable of performing on the world’s biggest stages,” she said.
“We look forward to cheering on every South Australian athlete in Glasgow and celebrating the success of a team that truly showcases the depth of talent across our state.”
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games run from July 23 to August 2, with competition beginning on Friday, July 24.
Australians can watch the Games live and free through Channel 7 and 7plus.
