Dolphins locked and loaded ahead of Glasgow arrival

THE Dolphins are locked and loaded.

Just 24 hours out from leaving their training base in Darmstadt, Germany, Australia’s swim team put on their finishing touches ahead of the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Rising star Jamie Jack (pictured right) and world record holder Cam McEvoy (pictured left) went head-to-head in the 25m pool in a final hit out; youngest Dolphin Mia Hogan, 14, soaked up a last lap taper, and Sam Short and Lani Pallister swapped notes ahead of their historic ambition to claim the Grand Slam of distance swimming: the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m.

Head coaches Rohan Taylor and Mel Tantrum said the team would arrive in Glasgow rested and ready to defend the title of the Commonwealth’s top swimming nation.

However, Taylor confirmed the late withdrawal of 200m individual medley swimmer Tommy Neil who suffered a hand injury during staging camp and will be out of the water for several weeks.

And while the likes of McEvoy, Hodge, Chalmers, Patterson, O’Callaghan and Pallister are proven performers, Taylor and Tantrum highlighted five names that are set to become household names.

Sienna Toohey
Teen queen Toohey, 17, gave a glimpse into the future when she slashed 0.46 seconds off her personal best in the 100m breaststroke at Trials to clock 1:05.97 and become the third-fastest Australian in history (all ages) behind Leisel Jones (1:05.09) and Sarah Katsoulis (1:05.86). Touted a future star of Australian swimming, Toohey’s rise in on the horizon.

Harry Turner
Turner’s bronze medal in the 200m fly at Worlds last year was Australia’s first podium finish in this event at a World Championships. As the slowest qualifier for the final he won the bronze from Lane 8, breaking Nick D’Arcy’s Australian record that had stood since 2009. Turner again turned heads at Trials, winning the 200m fly and hitting new PB in the 200 free, to likely earn a berth on the 4×200 free relay.

Mia Hogan
At 14, Hogan is the youngest athlete selected for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The vision-impaired athlete, who will compete in the 50m and 100m S13 free, has been ear marked for Brisbane 2032. With the experienced Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson as her roommate, Hogan is relaxed and settled ahead of her Games debut.

Henry Allan
The boy from Bendigo is officially backstroke’s bolter.
Henry Allan announced himself on Night 2 of the Australian Swimming Trials by taking out the men’s 100m backstroke in 53.52 to promptly put himself in the frame – and then cement – selection for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as part of the 4x100m medley relay squad.
There has always been a feeling to not rush the age-group star but Allan is ready to step on to the international stage.

Beau Matthews
AS far as buddies go, Beau Matthews has hit the jackpot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Dolphins’ rookie has been paired with world record-holder Cam McEvoy and the experienced Elijah Winnington as his tour “buddies” for his breakthrough senior meet.
Beau, an S10 athlete, cantered to gold cap selection after a standout season in 2025 where he set 16 national age records and became a recipient of the Commonwealth Games Australia Kurt Fearnley Scholarship.