Glasgow 2026 preview: Para swimming champions set for high‑stakes showdown

The Para Swimming action at the 2026 Commonwealth Games kicks off on Friday (24 July) in Glasgow, Great Britain, featuring a deeper programme and no shortage of proven international quality. 

Fourteen titles will be decided across six days at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, where established champions will meet athletes chasing historic firsts for their countries. With two additional medal events compared to Birmingham 2022, Glasgow 2026 will stage the largest Para swimming programme to date at the Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow 2026’s Para swimming schedule and results can be found here and all events will be livestreamed to audiences across 74 territories and beyond. More information on where to watch can be checked here.

Para swimming has been part of the Commonwealth Games since Manchester 2002. This year, seven events for women and seven for men feature within the wider swimming schedule, covering physical, vision and intellectual impairment classifications.

Tollcross provides familiar surroundings for many leading names. The venue staged swimming at Glasgow 2014 and hosted the World Para Swimming Championships one year later. Its 50m pool will now welcome a field led by Paralympic and world medallists from England, Scotland, Australia, Canada and beyond.

England arrives with considerable depth. Alice Tai returns as a two-time Commonwealth champion, having won the 100m backstroke at both Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. Her experience is matched by the form of Poppy Maskill and William Ellard, two of the outstanding S14 swimmers of the current cycle.

Maskill won three gold medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games before claiming three individual world titles in Singapore in 2025. Ellard also left Paris as a Paralympic champion and set a world record on his way to the men’s 200m freestyle S14 world title in Singapore.

Their main opportunity in Glasgow comes on Saturday 25 July, when both S14 200m freestyle events are contested. England can also call upon world and Paralympic medallists including Louise Fiddes, Rebecca Redfern and Brock Whiston across the programme.

Scotland’s seven athlete team brings its own blend of medal experience and home interest. Toni Shaw, Stephen Clegg and Ollie Carter return after competing at Birmingham 2022, while Faye Rogers and Astrid Carroll will make their Commonwealth Games debuts.

🎵 TAKE YOUR MARKS ... BEEP... 🤔

Think you've got the perfect swimming start? So did our swimmers and para swimmers... 😅

Who's getting a 10/10? 👀👇#TeamScotland #Glasgow2026 #Swimming #ParaSwimming #CommonwealthGames ##BringItHame pic.twitter.com/Qzw8haITyO

— Team Scotland (@Team_Scotland) July 17, 2026

Stephen Clegg arrives as a double Paris 2024 Paralympic champion and world record holder in the 100m backstroke S12. Rogers, meanwhile, won Paralympic gold in the 100m butterfly S10 in Paris and became world champion in the 200m individual medley SM10 in Singapore. Racing at Tollcross gives both the chance to compete for Scotland in front of a home crowd.

Australia remains a major part of the medal equation. Their 18 athlete Para swimming squad includes four-time Commonwealth Games competitor Lakeisha Patterson, Birmingham 2022 champions Tim Hodge and Col Pearse, and a group of seven debutants.

Patterson returns to the pool where she made her senior international debut as a 15-year-old at Glasgow 2014. Hodge is entered in the men’s 100m backstroke S9 and 100m breaststroke SB9, while Pearse faces fellow Australian Alex Saffy in the men’s 100m butterfly S10. Jack Ireland and Maddie McTernan add further Australian strength to the S14 freestyle races.

Canada have selected seven Para swimmers, including Nicolas Guy Turbide, Alec Elliot and emerging talent Reid Maxwell. Their presence adds further depth to events in which no country can rely on reputation alone, particularly with only eight qualification places available in each medal event.

There is also a potential landmark result for Uganda. Team captain Husnah Kukundakwe will compete alongside Condoleeza Nakazibwe as the country pursues its first Commonwealth Games Para swimming medal. Kukundakwe, an SB8 swimmer and two-time Paralympian, has developed into one of Africa’s leading Para swimming competitors while advocating for greater opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

The opening day features four Para swimming events: the women’s and men’s 100m freestyle S13, women’s 200m individual medley SM10 and men’s 100m butterfly S10. The S14 200m freestyle races follow on Saturday.

Sunday’s programme turns to the women’s and men’s 100m backstroke S9, before the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8 and men’s 100m breaststroke SB9 take centre stage on Monday. The women’s and men’s 50m freestyle S13 will be contested on Tuesday, with the women’s 100m freestyle S9 and men’s 50m freestyle S7 closing the Para swimming programme on Wednesday 29 July.

Paralympic champion, Timothy Hodge, has been named Australia’s Baton Bearer for the @Glasgow_2026 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony, leading the Australian Team alongside Flag Bearer Nina Kennedy OAM 💚💛

Read the full story: https://t.co/X9Sk0ymY7s@CommGamesAUS pic.twitter.com/wNvdIzSwKq

— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) July 23, 2026

Complete Para swimming programme at Glasgow 2026:

Friday, 24 July

Women's 100m Freestyle S13

Men's 100m Freestyle S13

Women's 200m Individual Medley SM10

Men's 100m Butterfly S10

Saturday, 25

Women’s 200m Freestyle S14

Men’s 200m Freestyle S14

Sunday, 26

Women’s 100m Backstroke S9

Men’s 100m Backstroke S9

Monday, 27

Women’s 100m Breaststroke SB8

Men’s 100m Breaststroke SB9

Tuesday, 28

Women’s 50m Freestyle S13

Men’s 50m Freestyle S13

Wednesday, 29

Women’s 100m Freestyle S9

Men's 50m Freestyle S7