Aussie Para-Sport Stars Ready to Shine at Glasgow 2026
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are underway—and the Lifely team is ready to cheer on Australia!
One thing makes the Commonwealth Games different from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Para-sport is part of the main Commonwealth Games program. It is not an add-on, an afterthought or a separate event.
Para athletes and non-Para athletes represent the same Australian team. They compete at the same Games, use the same venues and contribute equally to Australia’s medal tally. That is inclusion in action.
Glasgow 2026 will host the largest integrated Para-sport program in Commonwealth Games history. Athletes will compete in 47 medal events across six Para-sports:
- 3×3 wheelchair basketball
- Para athletics
- Para bowls
- Para powerlifting
- Para swimming
- Para track cycling
Australia has selected 69 team members for Para-sport events, including two sighted tandem cycling pilots. Get ready for skill, speed, strength and plenty of exciting moments!
Which Para-Sports Could Australia Do Well In?
Australia has a strong Para-sport team, with a great mix of experienced champions and exciting new talent. While sport can always surprise us, there are plenty of events where Australia could challenge for medals.
Para swimming
Australia has a proud Para swimming history. Jasmine Greenwood, Col Pearse and Timothy Hodge all won gold at Birmingham 2022. Alex Saffy, Emily Beecroft and several other returning swimmers also have Commonwealth Games medals.
With experienced champions and talented young swimmers in the pool, Para swimming could deliver some big moments for Australia.
Para track cycling
Jessica Gallagher returns after winning two gold medals at Birmingham 2022. She will race with sighted tandem pilot Jacqui Mengler-Mohr.
Kane Perris and pilot Luke Zaccaria also arrive in Glasgow after strong international performances. Australia will also compete in new C1–3 and C4–5 track events, giving the team more chances to chase medals.
Para athletics
Australia’s Para athletics team includes several returning medallists.
Jaydon Page won silver at Birmingham 2022, while Rhiannon Clarke won bronze. Eliza Ault-Connell, Samuel Carter and Angie Ballard also bring valuable Commonwealth Games experience.
With races, jumping events and throwing events on the program, there will be plenty to cheer about.
3×3 wheelchair basketball
Australia’s men won gold when 3×3 wheelchair basketball made its Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham 2022. Luke Pople returns from that winning team.
Hannah Dodd also returns after helping Australia’s women win silver in Birmingham. Both teams will be looking to reach the podium again.
Para bowls
Australia’s Para bowls team includes several proven medal winners.
Serena Bonnell and Damien Delgado won silver medals at Birmingham 2022. Jake Fehlberg also won gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Para powerlifting
Hani Watson won one of Australia’s first medals at this year’s games – taking home bronze. This is Watson’s second Commonwealth bronze medal.
Benjamin Wright is another contender; he won bronze at Birmingham 2022. They return as part of Australia’s largest-ever Commonwealth Games Para powerlifting team.
No medal is guaranteed, but Australia has talent across all six Para-sports. The Lifely team will be cheering for every athlete wearing the green and gold!
Angie Ballard Makes Para-Sport History
Australian wheelchair racing great Angie Ballard will become the first Para athlete to compete at five Commonwealth Games.
The 43-year-old made her Commonwealth Games debut at Melbourne 2006. Since then, she has competed at seven Paralympic Games and won more than 20 medals at major international events.
In Glasgow, Angie will compete in the women’s 400m and 1500m T54 events.
Cheering for Para-Sport Talent From the Lifely Region
The Lifely team gives a special shout-out to two Para athletes with strong links to the communities we support.
Sam Rizzo lives in Buninyong and competes for Ballarat YCW. The Ballarat Paralympian will represent Australia in the men’s 1500m T54 wheelchair race.
Col Pearse was born in Echuca and grew up on his family’s dairy farm in northern Victoria. He will compete in the men’s 100m butterfly S10.
Sam and Col show the incredible Para-sport talent found across regional Victoria. We will proudly cheer them on, along with every member of the Australian team.
Go Aussies!
Full Australian Para Athletics Team
Australia has selected 24 athletes for its Glasgow 2026 Para athletics team:
- Aimee Fisher: Women’s 400m T54
- Ainsley Hooker: Women’s shot put F57
- Angie Ballard: Women’s 400m and 1500m T54
- Archer Hewett: Men’s 1500m T20
- Ayla Kowalczyk: Women’s long jump T38
- Briseis Brittain: Women’s 200m T38
- Daniel Milone: Men’s 1500m T20
- Eliza Ault-Connell: Women’s 400m and 1500m T54
- Ella Pardy: Women’s 100m T38
- Jaydon Page: Men’s 100m T47
- Julie Charlton: Women’s shot put F57
- Layla Sharp: Women’s long jump T38
- Lexie Brown: Women’s 100m T47
- Lindsey Hendy: Men’s long jump T20
- Matthew Sheppard: Men’s shot put F57
- Michal Burian: Men’s discus F42–44/F61–64
- Mikaela Dingley: Women’s 1500m T54
- Nathan Jason: Men’s 100m T12
- Rhiannon Clarke: Women’s 100m and 200m T38
- Sam Rizzo: Men’s 1500m T54
- Samuel Carter: Men’s 1500m T54
- Sienna Newton: Women’s long jump T38
- Thomas McGough: Men’s 100m T38
- Ullrich Muller: Men’s 100m T38
Full Australian Para Swimming Team
The Australian Para swimming team includes 18 swimmers:
- Alex Saffy: Men’s 100m butterfly S10
- Alyssa Gillespie: Women’s 100m breaststroke SB8
- Beau Matthews: Men’s 100m breaststroke SB9
- Col Pearse: Men’s 100m butterfly S10
- Emily Beecroft: Women’s 100m freestyle S9
- Gemma Sellick: Women’s 100m backstroke S9 and breaststroke SB8
- Harrison Vig: Men’s 100m backstroke S9
- Jack Ireland: Men’s 200m freestyle S14
- Jasmin Fullgrabe: Women’s 100m backstroke S9
- Jasmine Greenwood: Women’s 200m individual medley SM10
- Jenna Jones: Women’s 200m freestyle S14
- Kirralee Hayes: Women’s 50m and 100m freestyle S13
- Lakeisha Patterson: Women’s 100m freestyle S9
- Liam Togher: Men’s 100m backstroke S9
- Maddie McTernan: Women’s 200m freestyle S14
- Mia Hogan: Women’s 50m and 100m freestyle S13
- Timothy Hodge: Men’s 100m backstroke S9 and breaststroke SB9
- Victoria Belando Nicholson: Women’s 100m freestyle and backstroke S9
Full Australian Para Bowls Team
Six athletes will represent Australia in Para bowls:
- Damien Delgado: Para men’s pairs
- Jacqueline Hudson: Vision-impaired mixed pairs
- Jake Fehlberg: Vision-impaired mixed pairs
- James Reynolds: Para men’s pairs
- Louise Hoskins: Para women’s pairs
- Serena Bonnell: Para women’s pairs
Full Australian Para Track Cycling Team
Seven Australians will compete in Para track cycling:
- Erin Normoyle: Women’s C4–5
- Gordon Allan: Men’s C1–3
- Jacqui Mengler-Mohr: Sighted pilot for the women’s tandem B
- Jessica Gallagher: Women’s tandem B
- Kane Perris: Men’s tandem B
- Luke Zaccaria: Sighted pilot for the men’s tandem B
- Tara Neyland: Women’s C4–5
Full Australian Para Powerlifting Team
Australia’s largest-ever Commonwealth Games Para powerlifting team includes:
- Benjamin Wright: Men’s heavyweight
- Cameron Whittington: Men’s heavyweight
- Daniel Bos: Men’s lightweight
- Hani Watson: Women’s heavyweight
- Jade Pritchard: Women’s lightweight
- Natasha Price: Women’s lightweight
Full Australian 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball Teams
Eight players will represent Australia in 3×3 wheelchair basketball:
- Ebony Stevenson
- Eithen Leard
- Georgia Munro-Cook
- Hannah Dodd
- Luke Pople
- Taishar Ovens
- Tom O’Neill-Thorne
- Tomas Klein
Cheer On Australia’s Para-athletes
Follow Australia’s Para-athletes as they compete at Glasgow 2026. Watch live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus, or visit Commonwealth Games Australia for schedules, results and team news.
