Champion Nina Kennedy hails “special” Glasgow 2026 selection
Reigning Olympic and Commonwealth Games pole vault champion Nina Kennedy is among the first batch of track and field athletes to be named in the Australian Team which will line-up at Glasgow 2026.
The 29-year-old, who in addition to winning gold at Birmingham 2022 claimed bronze in her home nation during her Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018, also won the World Championships title in 2023.
“It’s always a privilege to wear the green and gold and to be selected for Glasgow means a lot,” Kennedy said.
“The Commonwealth Games are incredibly special and I’m excited for the opportunity to compete again and build towards something really strong with this team.”
That squad, which features 10 other athletes, will be added to across two further selection announcements across the coming months.
Among those selected just ahead of the 100 days to go mark until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games begin, on 23 July, are Birmingham 2022 medal-winners Peter Bol (800m silver) and Nicola Olyslagers (High Jump bronze).
Another athlete who hopes to be in medal contention this summer is 100m sprinter Lachlan Kennedy who delivered one of the standout performances at the recent Australia Athletics Championships, recording a time of 9.96 seconds.
“It’s always an honour to represent your country, especially at a prestigious event like the Commonwealth Games, so if I was able to win a gold and run a good time, it’d be the ultimate privilege,” Kennedy said.
“I think I can win the whole thing. I’m confident and I know I can go faster.”
Australian 1,500m champion Claudia Hollingsworth will line-up in the One Mile discipline, which is making a return to the Commonwealth Games programme for the first time since Kingston 1966.
Abbey Caldwell (800m), Reece Holder (400m), Liam Adcock (Long Jump), Isaac Beacroft (10,000m Race Walk), Elizabeth McMillen (10,000m Race Walk) and Cameron Myers (One Mile) are the other athletes named in the first stage of Australia Athletics selection.
Australian Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM OLY, who herself won 12 Commonwealth swimming medals – nine gold – across the 1994-2022 Games said the announcement marks an important step towards Glasgow 2026.
“These athletes represent the first selections on the road to Glasgow 2026 and their performances in Sydney highlight the strength and depth we’re building across the team,” Thomas said.
“It’s an exciting start to our campaign and this group provides real momentum as we continue to shape the team in the lead‑up to the Games.”
