2026 Commonwealth Games Previews: The Stars Are Out In Males’s Dash Freestyle

2026 Commonwealth Games

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

BY THE NUMBERS – MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 20.88 – Cameron McEvoy, Australia (2026)
• Commonwealth Record: 20.88 – Cameron McEvoy, Australia (2026)
• Commonwealth Games Record: 21.11 – Ben Proud, England (2018) 
• 2022 Commonwealth Champion– Ben Proud (ENG), 21.36

Aussie Heat

The 50 free belongs to at least one man proper now. Can McEvoy is the world file holder courtesy of the 20.88 he clocked on the China Open in March, and though he was a bit of slower at Australian Trials there isn’t any doubt that he’s the person to beat.

McEvoy shifted his focus to this occasion in 2022 on the age of 28, though he owns a silver (2014) and a bronze (2018) from earlier editions of the Commonwealth Games. The 2023 World Championships was his first particular person world title nonetheless, coming after a season during which he posted the 5 quickest occasions on the planet, all below 21.50.

His title-winning time was 21.06, a brand new Oceanian file and the #2 swim ever in a textile swimsuit. He took a shock silver on the 2024 championships, posting his slowest swim of the meet within the last, however was again on high in the summertime as he gained his first Olympic title in 21.25.

He gained the world title once more final summer season, clocking 21.14 as he posted the quickest time on the planet for the third yr working. This yr is his quickest but, and he’s properly over half a second sooner than some other Commonwealth swimmer this yr. If there was one occasion winner to wager your own home on, it could be McEvoy.

Behind him, the rostrum seems to be comparatively easy to foretell. Jamie Jack and Josh Liendo are the one swimmers within the second tier, with lifetime bests of 21.43 and 21.48 respectively, with nobody else within the area ever having been below 21.7.

Of this pair, Jack is within the higher type coming in, clocking 21.60 and 21.52 at Australian Trials. His PB of 21.43 comes from a time trial at U.S. Nationals final summer season, and this season he has proven the consistency and large race temperament to point that he could make the rostrum in is first senior worldwide meet.

Liendo has solely been 22.29 in lengthy course thus far, however did skip Canadian Trials and has not swum a taper meet since going three-for-three at NCAAs. Since setting his PB, Liendo’s quickest swim is 21.88 from final yr’s Canadian Trials. However, with Commonwealths his solely meet of the summer season, anticipate him to be again close to his finest. The 50 free does happen in the identical periods because the 100 fly nonetheless, so it could additionally not be a shock to see him scratch completely.

Battle For Final Places To Be Fierce

Flynn Southam, Jacob Mills, and Matt Richards are three of the 4 different males seeded below 22 seconds. Southam has sliced half a second off his finest thus far this season, dropping from 22.22 to 21.85 after which 21.72 at Australian Trials. He is the probably of the three to problem the rostrum, though Mills has youth on his facet, with Richards much more targeted on the 100 free and 200 free.

Southam clocked 21.85 on the Japan Open again in November, then took third at Australian Trials in 21.72, having by no means been below 22 seconds earlier than this season. He didn’t swim the 200 free at Australian Trials, which might point out that the 50 is his secondary focus after the 100 this yr.

Mills shaved 0.05 seconds off his finest on the Aquatics GB Championships in April, going from 21.96 to 21.91. He did add time final summer season, posting occasions of 21.98 and 22.02 on the World Junior Championships, however shouldn’t be coming off such an enormous breakout this yr. This summer season, there could also be extra to return for him.

Tolu Young might make historical past for Fiji. The Pacific Island nation has by no means had a person finalist in swimming, Taichi Vakasama coming closest with a tenth place end within the 200 breast 4 years in the past. However, Young is seeded sixth within the 50 free along with his 21.92 from the U.S. Open in December, and had a stellar NCAA season with Arizona State. He most likely gained’t be within the medal hunt this yr, however is greater than able to making the ultimate.

Pieter Coetze will probably be one to look at if he swims, with a finest of twenty-two.02 which he has already neared with a 22.04 in April. His focus will most likely be purely on the backstroke occasions although, particularly with little probability of {hardware} on this occasion for him.

Lamar Taylor has been constantly below 22.5 thus far this season, clocking 22.25 or higher on 4 events. His season finest stands at 22.10, simply 0.05 seconds off his lifetime finest from final summer season’s World Championships, and he sliced almost half a second off his lifetime finest in SCM with a 21.00 on the Toronto cease of the World Cup tour – a severe time. He will probably be on a mission to interrupt 22 seconds.

A person who has already executed that’s Singapore’s Mikkel Lee, at the moment swimming for Indiana within the NCAA. He set a brand new lifetime better of 21.95 on the Bergen Swim Festival in April, coming inside 4 hundredths of a second of Jonathan Tan‘s nationwide file. He was a barely slower 22.24 on the Singaporean Championships, and added time at Worlds final yr.

Calvyn Justus is competing at his first worldwide meet for South Africa, having cracked 22 seconds for the primary time this April. He took almost 5 years away from the game after 2020, however is on a tear thus far this yr. He has clocked 22.1 or higher on six events this season, with a 21.97 from the South African Championships standing as his finest. He swam 22.09 and 22.17 within the second week of July in his adopted house of LA, and ought to be round that point if not higher in Glasgow.

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BY THE NUMBERS – MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE

Dogfight At The Top

Unlike within the 50 free, there’s a actual battle brewing for the highest spot within the 100 free. Kyle Chalmers is the reigning Commonwealth champion, beating out Tom Dean and Duncan Scott in 2022, however it’s Matt Richards who’s the quickest man within the Commonwealth thus far this season.

The Welshman clocked 47.53 on the Aquatics GB Championships, additionally posting a time of 47.61 within the heats, and is 0.06 seconds sooner than Chalmers thus far this season. The Aussie owns a season better of 47.59 from Australian Trials, however his lifetime better of 47.08 is 4 tenths sooner than Richards’ British file of 46.96.

Chalmers has the extra star-studded CV, successful every little thing potential within the 100 free. He gained Olympic gold in 2016, world gold in 2023, and Commonwealth gold in 2022, and has confirmed himself probably the most dependable freestyle relay anchors in historical past. By distinction, Richards has made simply two world finals within the occasion, inserting fifth in 2023 and eighth in 2025, lacking not simply the rostrum however the last as properly at Commonwealths in 2022.

However, Richards has confirmed himself a big-game performer within the 200 free, successful world gold in 2023 and Olympic silver in 2024. He seems to be in his finest ever type, posting his quickest in-season occasions ever, and will probably be a menace to Chalmers’ hopes of defending his title.

Chalmers might have the sting – he has extra pace within the 50 free, and gained’t have the break up focus that Richards will with the 200 free. This battle will seemingly be shut, however the Aussie ought to simply shade it this time.

Battle For Bronze

Behind that pair are a glut of swimmers within the 47-high to 48-low vary. Josh Liendo is the foremost of these, proudly owning a better of 47.55 from each the 2022 World Championships and the 2024 Canadian Trials. He has not damaged 48 seconds because the Olympics nonetheless, and like within the 50 is but to swim this occasion tapered this yr. If he swims the occasion he’ll must be at his finest for a podium place.

Jacob Mills, Flynn Southam, and Pieter Coetze all personal bests within the 47.7-47.8 vary, with the previous the swimmer with maybe the best ceiling. Mills clocked 48.03 ultimately yr’s Aquatics GB Championships, then went on to decrease his finest to 47.74 within the semi-finals at World Juniors earlier than successful silver in 48.22. Another PB of 47.72 this April makes him the #3 Commonwealth swimmer this season.

Southam was 47.94 at Australian Trials, however has a better of 47.69 from final yr. He completed twelfth at worlds final yr in 47.90, however led off the title-winning 4×100 free relay in 47.77. Having set an enormous PB of 21.72 within the 50, he might have some additional early pace to lean on.

Coetze has solely been 48.18 this yr, however led off the 4×100 free relay on the 2025 World University Games in 47.88. He will deal with the backstroke occasions, however could possibly be a medal menace right here as properly if he did swim. As this occasion falls on the penultimate day, with the 100 backstroke semi-final and the combined medley relay last, he might forgo a triple.

Kai Taylor will probably be aiming to make his mark on this occasion in his first worldwide swim within the 100 free. He was 47.97 in December, his first time below 48 seconds, however was 48.21 at Australian Trials for third. He hasn’t at all times swum his finest at main worldwide meets, however anticipate him to be within the combine for a last.

Gabe Shepherd and Jack McMillan each set large lifetime bests on the Aquatics GB Championships this yr, clocking occasions of 48.43 and 48.37 respectively. Shepherd could possibly be a bolter at simply 18, transferring on from some improbable junior swims to a senior crew for England, and has some completely improbable approach. McMillan might not swim as he prioritizes his favored 200 free, however has the pace to be a finalist.

Finally, Antoine Sauve has a better of 48.42 from final summer season and was clearly not tapered for the current Canadian Trials, indicating that he’s saving his finest for this meet. He has simply completed up a stable first NCAA season with Michigan, and will probably be aiming to make it a Canadian double within the last.

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BY THE NUMBERS – MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
• Commonwealth Record: 1:44.06 – Ian Thorpe, Australia (2001)
• Commonwealth Games Record: 1:44.71 – Ian Thorpe, Australia (2002)
• 2022 Commonwealth Champion– Duncan Scott (SCO), 1:45.02

On the lads’s facet, this seems to be to be the race of the meet. There will probably be not less than seven males in attendance with lifetime bests of 1:45.30 or higher, and we might see the total last below 1:46. That is world championship last stage depth, and whoever comes out on high may have had a gauntlet to run.

The British Are Coming

We’ll begin with the defending champion. Duncan Scott got here again from an sickness which had induced him to overlook the World Championships to win Commonwealth gold in 1:45.02, forward of Tom Dean and Elijah Winnington. He has been 1:45.44 this season, inserting third on the Aquatics GB Championships, and owns a better of 1:44.26 from 2021. He didn’t swim the occasion at worlds final yr, however did break up 1:43.95 on the 4×200 free relay to anchor Great Britain to gold.

He has had an unlucky knack of being on the unsuitable finish of some tight touches, lacking out on Olympic gold by 0.04 seconds in 2021 and by 0.15 seconds in 2024, however will probably be searching for his third Commonwealth medal within the occasion after successful bronze in 2018 and gold in 2022. He most likely isn’t fairly the favourite this yr, however depend him out of a podium end at your peril.

The favourite tag most likely falls to Wales’ Matt Richards, regardless of him lacking the ultimate at worlds final summer season. He gained world gold in a lifetime better of 1:44.30 in 2023, then gained Olympic silver out of lane 1 in a time of 1:44.74 in 2024. He clocked his fourth-fastest time ever on the Aquatics GB Championships in April, using a 26.67 last 50 to overtake Duncan Scott and James Guy and break 1:45 for the fifth time.

Richards had a troublesome 2022, and ended up inserting fifth in 1:47.19 on the Commonwealth Games. However, he has been no worse than 1:45.35 in any of the three seasons since, and along with his field-best last 50 he ought to be capable to break the sphere aside coming into the contact.

James Guy can even be eyeing up a podium end, however his PB of 1:45.04 places him squarely within the pack. Sam Short (1:45.16), Jack McMillan (1:45.27) and Kai Taylor (1:45.30) are all inside three tenths of a second, and have all set lifetime bests within the final 12 months. Guy continues to be the quickest of the 4, and has clocked occasions 1:45.04 and 1:45.08 within the final two seasons respectively and is the one one with a world medal within the occasion. He was the 2015 world champion on the age of 19, and was a characteristic of worldwide finals over the latter half of the final decade, however the 2025 world last was his first since 2017.

He has additionally by no means gained a Commonwealth medal within the 200 free. He positioned sixth in 2014, 4th in 2018, a tenth of a second off Duncan Scott for bronze, and didn’t swim the occasion in 2022. The man with 13 Commonwealth medals will probably be searching for so as to add yet another, and after out-touching Scott for second on the Aquatics GB Championships in April, 1:45.38 to 1:45.44, he ought to really feel assured that he has the power to take action.

Making Waves

Sam Short might have probably the most hassle making the rostrum, taking up a brutal schedule that features the 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, and 1500 free. By the time the ultimate of the 200 free comes round on the ultimate day, he may have accomplished 6km of racing, 3.2km of it on the ultimate day. The males’s 1500 free, each heats and finals, is on the ultimate day, as is the 200 free – he’ll battle to return again with one other 1:45-low within the last, and could possibly be the large title that misses it.

Taylor knocked half a second off his 1:45.79 PB from the 2023 World Championships at Australian Trials, breaking by way of after a 1:44.64 break up on the 4×200 free on the World Championships final summer season. He ought to push Guy for bronze, however has not fared fairly as properly individually as he has on relays in the case of worldwide meets, inserting ninth on the 2024 World Championships and twentieth on the 2023 version.

Jack McMillan positioned 4th on the Aquatics GB Championships in 1:45.91 in April, however set a lifetime better of 1:45.27 main off within the heats of the 4×200 free on the World Championships final summer season, earlier than successful 400 free gold and 200 free silver on the European Short Course Championships in December. He has not been a constant 1:45-point swimmer, with solely two swims sub-1:46, however has had a improbable final 12 months and would like to cap it with a medal for Northern Ireland.

Lewis Clareburt is one thing of a shock title within the medal hunt, having gained the 200 fly and 400 IM in 2022 however setting a monster private better of 1:45.57 on the Australian Open Championships. He confirmed some pace within the 400 free as properly, clocking 3:46.86 to fall simply 0.01 seconds off his New Zealand file in April, and has a 1:46.60 and a 1:47.03 within the 200 free this season as properly. With no semi-finals, he ought to be capable to spherical off his meet with a finals look.

Fighting For The Final

A British trio may have designs on the ultimate, having all damaged into the 1:46s on the Aquatics GB Championships. Tyler Melbourne-Smith (1:46.67), Gabe Shepherd (1:46.39) and Evan Jones (1:46.50) will swim for Wales, England, and Scotland respectively and all dropped not less than a second or so to set their PBs again in April. Shepherd is the quickest riser, whereas Jones break up 1:47.64 on the 4×200 free relay 4 years in the past, and Melbourne-Smith turned the #2 Brit in historical past within the SCM 400 free on the Swim England Winter Championships in December.

The third Australian will probably be Harrison Turner, until he declines his spot to permit Ed Summerville to swim. Turner hacked over a second off his finest to position third at Australian Trials in 1:45.71, and one thing related ought to be sufficient for the ultimate. He may have had a full day’s relaxation between the 200 fly, his fundamental occasion, and the 200 free, and after he dropped time final summer season he ought to be round his PBs this yr at a minimal.

Finally, two swimmers who might show to be wildcards. The first of them definitely is – Tom Dean, who gained worldwide medals three summers in a row from 2021 to 2023, has not swum the 200 free individually at both the 2024 Olympics or 2025 World Championships, and realistically has not been in high type since these Olympics. He took a break in the beginning of final season, was chosen as a discretionary decide for the 2025 World Championships, and positioned twenty third within the 200 IM (2:00.76) and splitting 1:46.35 within the heats of the 4×200 free relay. This season, he missed the Aquatics GB Championships by way of harm and has a season better of simply 1:48.48.

Dean most likely swims the 200 free individually – England’s third swimmer can be both Max Litchfield or Jacob Mills in any other case, neither of whom are 200 freestylers – and will do absolutely anything with out being an excessive amount of of a shock. The probably final result, nonetheless, is a 1:46-high that misses the ultimate. He has but to indicate that something extra ought to be anticipated during the last 24 months.

Antoine Sauve, like Dean a nationwide file holder within the 200 free, lowered the Canadian mark final June as he gained the ‘B’ last at Canadian Trials in 1:46.39. He added almost three seconds on the World Championships to complete thirty seventh in 1:49.19, and has not damaged 1:48 thus far this season. If he can drop time once more, which at 21 shouldn’t be inconceivable, the ultimate is a sensible final result. If he repeats his summer season efficiency from final yr, he is not going to have a person swim within the finals session on June twenty ninth.

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