Women’s Storylines To Follow At The 2026 Commonwealth Games

2026 Commonwealth Games

• July 24 – 29, 2026 (pool swimming)
• Glasgow, Scotland
• Tollcross International Swimming Centre
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Preview Index

The Commonwealth Games kicks off on Friday, but is missing the two biggest names on the women’s side. Summer McIntosh‘s absence was announced well in advance, with Canada’s small squad selected back in October 2025, but Kaylee McKeown‘s withdrawal has been more of a shock.

Without that pair, Mollie O’Callaghan looks like the undisputed star – although is also suffering with a back injury. There may not be quite the same sprinkling of stardust as in previous years, but that should be compensated for with some fierce racing.

As we get closer to the start of the meet, SwimSwam has compiled some of the top women’s storylines to watch in Glasgow this coming week.

How Close Will Mollie O’Callaghan Be To Full Fitness?

Mollie O’Callaghan announced last week that she has been dealing with a stress fracture and bone oedema in her lumbar spine, factors which had led doctors to advise her to immediately take a break from the pool and skip Australian Trials, Commonwealths and Pan Pacs this summer.

That would have been a huge loss for Australia, but the defending 100 free champion ended up being given the green light to carry on competing. With that in mind, her performances at Australian Trials were seriously impressive. She clocked 52.33 in the 100, just a quarter of a second off her best, and posted a 1:52.86 in the 200 free that only herself and Ariarne Titmus have ever been faster than.

A fully fit O’Callaghan is the prohibitive favorite in the 100 free and 200 free, plus a real title threat in the 50 back. Her injury throws a little doubt on that status, but the early signs are positive for her.

There are threats in her main events – Freya Colbert and Lani Pallister in the 200 free, Meg Harris and Shayna Jack in the 100 free – but she would have to be a whole lot more affected than she was at Australian Trials if she is not to be the favorite.

Women’s Backstroke Is Wide Open Now

Kaylee McKeown would have been the favorite at all three backstroke distances if she was competing, but her withdrawal with mononucleosis has thrown the odds into disarray. We could now see a different winner at each distance, and there probably is not a prohibitive favorite in any event right now.

Kylie Masse is the most decorated backstroker who will be swimming, and did win gold in the 50 back and silver at the other two distances four years ago – a reversal of her results on the Gold Coast in 2018, where she won silver in the 50 and gold in the other two events.

The 50 back looks like a real battle, with Mollie O’Callaghan, (27.19), Iona Anderson (27.33), Kylie Masse (27.35), and Lauren Cox (27.39) separated by just two tenths of a second, while the 100 looks to be between Anderson and Masse with no one else under 59 seconds this year.

The 200 back will get a new champion. Masse and McKeown have won the past two titles, and neither will be swimming the event this year. Iona Anderson and Hannah Fredericks will be aiming to keep the top of the podium Australian, but the defending bronze medalist may have something to say about that. Katie Shanahan, for whom, being Glaswegian, this is more than just a home Games, will be aiming to bounce back from a tough couple of years and has the fastest lifetime best of anyone in the field.

Scotland’s Women To Make Their Mark At A Home Games

Shanahan is not the only Scotswoman to harbor medal hopes. Shanahan (200 back, 400 IM) and S9 swimmer Toni Shaw (100 free S9) were the only female Scottish medalists four years ago, but the numbers should swell in Glasgow.

The most likely new medalist is Angharad Evans, who is the favorite in both the 100 breast and 200 breast, setting a new British record in both events at the Aquatics GB Championships in April. She is the hot favorite in both events and makes Scotland a threat in the medley relays as well, and should claim Scotland’s first gold since the Games were last in Glasgow.

Evans will be the biggest name on the women’s side for the hosts. Not since Hannah Miley have they had a female title threat, and Evans is on an absolute tear this season. She is the first women to break 1:05 in the 100 breast in over two years, and in what is a relatively weak women’s breaststroke field she should make waves.

Evie Davis will be hoping to make the 100 free final after a big PB in April, while Holly McGill could sneak onto the podium in the 200 back. Fly is one of the stronger strokes, with Ciara Schlosshan and national record holder Keanna Macinnes figuring to claim at least one medal between them, while Katie Shanahan is a threat in the 200 back and 400 IM again.

There is real opportunity in the relays too, with Canada only sending a team of six women to the Games. The Scottish women came away with three medals from the 2014 edition in Glasgow. They could double that number this time.

What Can Theodora Taylor Do?

Theodora Taylor competed in the first two days at the European Junior Championships, but returned halfway through in preparation for this meet. She was on form in Munich, winning the 50 free in 24.82, split 53.42 on the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, and set a new 200 free best with a 1:58.29 leadoff on the 4×200 free relay.

She will be an important part of the Welsh relays, as well as a finals threat in the 50 free and 100 free. In the former she could be in with a shout of the medals, with her best of 24.59 from April.

Matt Richards is the star for the Welsh men, but the women have been a little weaker since Medi Harris stepped away in 2023. Taylor looks ready to take that mantle this summer, and has already proven she can handle pressure at the junior level. In a Games without some of its stars, she could be the precocious young talent that springs a surprise or two

One Last Dance For Australia’s All-Conquering 4×100 free relay?

With the news of Shayna Jack’s retirement, to come after the end of the Games, only two swimmers will remain from Australia’s recent golden era of sprint freestylers. Meg Harris and Mollie O’Callaghan are not being left to fend entirely for themselves, with Milla Jansen, Olivia Wunsch, and Alexandria Perkins still in the fold, but the years of dominating on the world stage look to be coming to a close.

The 4×100 free relay at the 2023 World Championships was possibly the closest to perfection a relay will get in the near future. Jack was the second leg and fastest split on that relay, throwing down a 51.69, and although she hasn’t quite matched that level since she has been a top-ten sprinter in world swimming. Her retirement will leave a hole.

The flip side is that there is more space for Jansen and Wunsch to grow into, but without the same caliber of sprinter coming through the junior ranks behind them this team will have a fight on its hands to remain at the very top. For Australia, this could be their best chance for a while of taking the Commonwealth Games record under 3:30.

A Ton Of Turnover At The Top

Out of the 16 individual events on the schedule, only five have the defending champion in the field – the 100 free (Mollie O’Callaghan), the 50 breast and 100 breast (Lara van Niekirk), the 50 back (Kylie Masse), and the 200 fly (Elizabeth Dekkers). The change doesn’t stop with the top step of the podium either – 30 out of the 48 medals won in 2022 were won by swimmers who will not be competing this year.

That leaves a lot more uncertainty around the medalists than one would maybe expect. Several of those events have had a swimmer step up to become the favorite – Lani Pallister in distance freestyle, Angharad Evans in the 100 and 200 breast, Meg Harris in the 50 free – but there are still several that look very open.

A little bit more jeopardy should make for some exciting races. Could anyone predict the stroke 50 winners with any certainty right now? There will likely be several first-time medalists over the next few days.