The Commonwealth Games are set to kick off this Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland, with around 3,000 athletes from 74 nations converging to participate in 10 sports across an 11-day span. While the Commonwealth Games may not match the grandeur of the Summer Olympics in terms of size and global attention, swimming and track and field remain the focal points.
Today, the spotlight is on Canadian swimmers at the Commonwealth Games, with a focus on the upcoming track and field events. For many athletes, the Commonwealth Games serve as a stepping stone towards future success at the Olympics, as demonstrated by the remarkable journey of Summer McIntosh. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, the then 15-year-old Canadian prodigy clinched two individual gold medals, a silver, and three relay medals. This success paved the way for her stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, where she secured three gold medals and a silver, setting a Canadian record.
After further triumphs at the world championships, McIntosh is now eyeing the possibility of matching Michael Phelps’ historic feat of five solo gold medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, she has opted to skip the Commonwealth Games this year in favor of competing in the upcoming Pan Pacific championships in California.
Joining McIntosh in missing the Commonwealth Games is Taylor Ruck, who made a mark at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with an impressive haul of eight medals. In their absence, all eyes are on Josh Liendo, the 23-year-old Toronto native who claimed gold in the 100m butterfly at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and followed it up with a silver at the 2024 Olympics. Liendo’s achievements also include a silver at the 2023 world championships and a bronze at the 2022 worlds.
Liendo is expected to compete in various events at the Commonwealth Games, including the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 100m freestyle, in addition to several relays. Notably, he is the sole Black Canadian swimmer to have secured an Olympic medal.
While Liendo shines as the standout swimmer on the Canadian team, veteran Kylie Masse remains a force to be reckoned with. The 30-year-old backstroke specialist from LaSalle, Ont., boasts an impressive collection of individual Olympic and world championship medals. Masse’s stellar track record includes back-to-back world titles in the 100m backstroke and a gold in the 50m backstroke at the 2022 world championships.
In the men’s category, Oliver Dawson emerges as another strong contender, sweeping the breaststroke events at the Canadian trials with victories in the 50m, 100m, and 200m races. The Para swimming events at the Commonwealth Games feature notable Canadian talents like Danielle Dorris, Sebastian Massabie, Mary Jibb, and Nicolas-Guy Turbide, who have excelled in their respective categories.
Shoreview Sports Analytics predicts that Canada’s Olympic-class swimmers are poised to clinch eight medals at the Commonwealth Games. The model foresees Liendo leading the charge with a gold and two bronze medals, while Dawson and Masse are expected to contribute with three silvers collectively.
The swimming events at the Commonwealth Games will commence this Friday and run until July 29, with morning heats starting at 5:30 a.m. ET and finals at 2 p.m. ET daily. Viewers can catch the action live on CBC Gem. For comprehensive coverage, streaming options, and broadcast schedules, visit CBC Sports’ Commonwealth Games website.