Seven members of the University community competed at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, producing standout performances across athletics, netball and swimming.
Doctor of Medicine student Jemima Montag claimed her third consecutive Comm Games gold medal in the Women's 10,000m race walk with a personal best of 42:13.40. Montag became the second Australian to win three consecutive racewalking gold medals, following in the steps of Jane Saville.
“Australia is a race walking nation. I have people like Jared Tallent, Jane Saville, Nathan Deakes to look up to who have gone before us, so to sweep the podium is very cool" said Montag after the race.
Montag was joined by fellow Doctor of Medicine student Rebecca Henderson on the podium, who won bronze with a time of 43:27.46.
Both Montag and Henderson are proudly supported by the Andrew and Geraldine Buxton Athletics Scholarship.
Bachelor of Environments alumna Sarah Billings won bronze in the Women's 800m, running a time of 2:00.61 to claim Australia's first 800m medal in 36 years. Billings also set the Oceania 800m record leading into the Games.
Bachelor of Science alumnus Sam Williamson produced one of the standout performances of the Games, winning an astounding four gold medals in Men's 50 and 100m Butterfly, and the 4x100m Men's and Mixed Relay events. Having suffered a ruptured patellar tendon only 14 months prior, it was one of the great comeback stories for Williamson:
"14 months ago I wasn't walking", said Williamson. "I didn't know if I would ever swim again... Mentally it was the toughest challenge I've ever had to face"
Exchange alumna Imara-Bella Thorpe represented Kenya in swimming and made it to the Semi-final of the Women's 100m Butterfly and the heats of the 50m Butterfly and Freestyle.
In Netball, Master of Genomics and Health student Kiera Austin and Bachelor of Commerce alumna Jo Weston were part of the Australian Diamonds side that went through the group stage undefeated but were stunned by Jamaica in the semi-final, missing a Comm Games netball final for the first time. The Diamonds regrouped to beat England in the bronze medal playoff.