#143 - 2026 Commonwealth Games Preview

Um, we're going to run through, um, the various events and pick our highlights and things to watch for, um, over that six days of competition coming up.

And as we've got Hannah with us, we'll start with, uh, the individual medleys.

Um, so let's, let's deal with this straight away.

No Summer McIntosh, um, at these games because she's focusing on the Pan Pacific Championships instead, which is a great shame, uh, for the meet and for everyone watching, Hannah.

But, um, the 400 IM, uh, I thought might have been a very good, uh, opportunity for Amalie Smith, but we've just seen Jenna Forrester of Australia go 4:31 at Australian Trials, which must make her the, the big favorite for that.

But, um, someone for Amalie to chase.

You looking forward to seeing this, uh, this event that was once yours?

Yeah.

You know, myself and Amy were, you know, good rivals head-to-head, and that certainly spurred us on and pushed us.

I ended up going that 4:31 at the games, and I couldn't have done that without Amy being there.

So, you know, having Jenna there, I think, you know, will really push Amalie.

So it'll be quite exciting to see 'cause Amalie's breaststroke split is just phenomenal at the minute, and if she can get the other three strokes at the right position, you know, could she challenge Jenna? Could she take it? I don't know.

She's very young.

She's got a lot of, um, uh, kind of experience to gain from this race.

So, uh, yeah, it, it could prove to be quite a good, uh, race, whether she takes Jenna.

I, I guess we'll kind of see how Jenna's, um, recovery and preparations are with that long travel from Australia to Scotland, and then you've got jet lag to deal with.

Um, so yeah, it'll be, it'll certainly be interesting.

Shame that Summer isn't there.

You know, that definitely would've been a huge highlight to see.

But, you know, to have, uh, sort of our homegrown athletes challenge the, the medley event, uh, it- it's really nice to see.

And for the men, Steve, uh, Max Litchfield's looking for another, hopefully a gold at the Commonwealth Games.

And, uh, uh, just seeing how mentally attuned he was and how up for that event he was at the trials this year, I think there's still quite a lot left in the old dog yet.

I think, yes, I think you're right.

I mean, I actually saw him a week or so ago.

I was in Loughborough, um, and he seemed very relaxed.

Um, we're going to run through, um, the various events and pick our highlights and things to watch for, um, over that six days of competition coming up.

And as we've got Hannah with us, we'll start with, uh, the individual medleys.

Um, so let's, let's deal with this straight away.

No Summer McIntosh, um, at these games because she's focusing on the Pan Pacific Championships instead, which is a great shame, uh, for the meet and for everyone watching, Hannah.

But, um, the 400 IM, uh, I thought might have been a very good, uh, opportunity for Amalie Smith, but we've just seen Jenna Forrester of Australia go 4:31 at Australian Trials, which must make her the, the big favorite for that.

But, um, someone for Amalie to chase.

You looking forward to seeing this, uh, this event that was once yours?

Yeah.

You know, myself and Amy were, you know, good rivals head-to-head, and that certainly spurred us on and pushed us.

I ended up going that 4:31 at the games, and I couldn't have done that without Amy being there.

So, you know, having Jenna there, I think, you know, will really push Amalie.

So it'll be quite exciting to see 'cause Amalie's breaststroke split is just phenomenal at the minute, and if she can get the other three strokes at the right position, you know, could she challenge Jenna? Could she take it? I don't know.

She's very young.

She's got a lot of, um, uh, kind of experience to gain from this race.

So, uh, yeah, it, it could prove to be quite a good, uh, race, whether she takes Jenna.

I, I guess we'll kind of see how Jenna's, um, recovery and preparations are with that long travel from Australia to Scotland, and then you've got jet lag to deal with.

Um, so yeah, it'll be, it'll certainly be interesting.

Shame that Summer isn't there.

You know, that definitely would've been a huge highlight to see.

But, you know, to have, uh, sort of our homegrown athletes challenge the, the medley event, uh, it- it's really nice to see.

And for the men, Steve, uh, Max Litchfield's looking for another, hopefully a gold at the Commonwealth Games.

And, uh, uh, just seeing how mentally attuned he was and how up for that event he was at the trials this year, I think there's still quite a lot left in the old dog yet.

I think, yes, I think you're right.

I mean, I actually saw him a week or so ago.

I was in Loughborough, um, and he seemed very relaxed.