SwimSwam Pulse is a recurring feature tracking and analyzing the results of our periodic A3 Performance Polls. You can cast your vote in our newest poll on the SwimSwam homepage, about halfway down the page on the right side.
Our most recent poll asked SwimSwam readers which female swimmer will walk away with the most individual titles at the Commonwealth Games:
Question: Which woman will win the most individual gold medals at the Commonwealth Games?
RESULTS
- Lani Pallister – 68.4%
- Mollie O’Callaghan – 26.4%
- Angharad Evans – 2.7%
- Other – 1.6%
- Freya Colbert – 0.8%
- Iona Anderson – 0.0%
All signs point towards Lani Pallister walking away with a massive medal haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as the Australian proved last year she’s separated herself from the rest of the world, barring Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh, in the women’s distance freestyle events.
And with McIntosh opting not to compete at the Commonwealth Games this summer and focus on Pan Pacs, Pallister has a clear path to gold in the women’s 400, 800 and 1500 free, the latter of which will make its debut at the Games.
Four years ago, Pallister won bronze in the 800 free and placed 5th in the 400 free, and the only swimmer who beat her in either race in 2022 that will be back this year is New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather. Fairweather figures to pose a challenge in the 400 free, as her personal best of 3:59.44 is not far off Pallister’s 3:58.87, but Pallister is well clear of the Kiwi in the 800 and 1500.
In our latest poll, Pallister earned more than two-thirds of the votes when we asked readers which female swimmer they think will win the most individual golds in Glasgow.
Pallister is a big favorite to win three, and she’ll also be contending for a fourth in the 200 free, though Australian teammate Mollie O’Callaghan will be near-impossible to beat if she’s able to perform near her best. O’Callaghan is dealing with an injury, but still managed to produce one of the fastest swims ever at the Aussie Trials in 1:52.86, while Pallister set a new best time of 1:53.65.
O’Callaghan was the only other option in the poll to earn a substantial number of votes, picking up 26.7%.
If the injury isn’t an issue, she has a great chance to win three golds as well. She’s the defending champion in the 100 free, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 200 free, and then her other entry comes in the 50 back, where world record holder Kaylee McKeown‘s absence opens the door for O’Callaghan.
O’Callaghan’s best time sits at 27.16, ranking her 14th all-time, though two swimmers in the field, Kylie Masse (27.13) and Lauren Cox (27.15), own faster best times.
Angharad Evans, who we thought might have a chance to sweep the women’s breaststroke events, hasn’t entered the 50, meaning she can win a maximum of two individual golds racing on home soil in Glasgow. She earned 2.7% of votes to rank third in the poll.
Below, vote in our new A3 Performance Poll, which asks: How do you feel about the possible introduction of sports gambling into swimming?
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ABOUT A3 PERFORMANCE
The A3 Performance Poll is courtesy of A3 Performance, a SwimSwam partner.
Calling her a favorite over KL in 800 and 1500 feels like a stretch 🤷♂️