Griffith University will be represented by its largest-ever Commonwealth Games contingent at Glasgow, with 33 students, alumni, staff and program athletes, including para-sport athletes, set to compete across eight sports.
Thirty athletes have been selected for the Australian team, representing almost 12 per cent of the nation’s Commonwealth Games delegation.
The cohort includes Olympic champions Cam McEvoy, Shayna Jack and Zac Stubblety-Cook, Commonwealth Games medallists Kristina Clonan, Matt Denny, Kelsey Cottrell, Jake Fehlberg and Cara Koenen, alongside emerging stars Lachlan Kennedy, Torrie Lewis and Georgia Harris.
As one of Australia’s most successful high-performance sport institutions, Griffith athletes brought home 31 gold medals, 13 silver and 14 bronze medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Griffith Sports College Director Naomi McCarthy OAM OLY said the strong representation highlighted the depth of talent within Griffith’s high-performance sporting community.
“Congratulations to all 33 athletes,” Ms McCarthy said.
“To compete at a Commonwealth Games is a remarkable achievement and reflects years of dedication, hard work and resilience.
“Many of our athletes have been supported through scholarships, demonstrating the direct impact of investment in high-performance sport.”
Two scholarship recipients are set to make their Commonwealth Games debut after earning selection in the Australian Dolphins swim team, marking a major milestone in their sporting careers.
Australian breaststroke swimmer and Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) student Bailey Lello secured his place on the team with a standout performance at the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials, swimming 1:00.33 to claim silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke.
“I think I had a real turning point last year when I missed out on the world championships team,” Mr Lello said.
“I knew what I was doing outside of the pool wasn’t sustainable and needed to fix it.
“Part of the solution was studying at Griffith, and the Sports College helped me to successfully balance my degree with my training, which has been amazing.
“I’ve been constantly supported, and the Griffith team has helped work around my training and competition very successfully.”
Fellow scholarship recipient and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) student Amelia Weber will also make her Commonwealth Games debut after a breakthrough performance at the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials, where she claimed bronze in the women’s 400m freestyle in a personal-best 4:05.79.
“I am most excited about the chance to test myself on one of the biggest stages in sport,” Ms Weber said.
“The Commonwealth Games isn’t just about racing; it’s about representing your country, sharing the experience with teammates, and creating memories that last a lifetime.”
We wish the following athletes every success as they prepare to compete in Glasgow:
Judo
Aoife Coughlan, Master of Business
Weightlifting
Ryven Ewing, Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) (Alumnus)
Netball
Cara Koenen, Bachelor of Forensic Science and Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice (Alumnus)
Lawn Bowls
Jake Fehlberg, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Kelsey Cottrell, Bachelor of Journalism (Alumnus)
Basketball
Nauna Lelai, Bachelor of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Business (Griffith International – representing Papua New Guinea)
Jesse Wagstaff, Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning
Cycling
Kristina Clonan, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Molly McGill, Diploma of Education
James Moriarty, Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Commerce
Ryan Elliott, Bachelor of Business
Wheelchair Basketball
Tom O’Neill Thorne, Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Government and International Relations (Alumnus)
Georgia Munro-Cook, Research Fellow in the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research
Athletics
Lachlan Kennedy, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Business
Isaac Beacroft, Bachelor of Business
Elizabeth McMillen, Bachelor of Political Science & International Relations and Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Torrie Lewis, Bachelor of Cyber Security
Georgia Harris, Bachelor of Business
Lara Roberts, Bachelor of Exercise Science (Alumnus)
Matt Denny, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Para Swimming
Victoria Belando Nicholson, Bachelor of Design
Maddie McTernan, Griffith Paralympic Swim Program
Swimming
Jenna Forrester, Bachelor of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Business
Meg Harris, Bachelor of Nursing
Shayna Jack, Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Bailey Lello, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Will Petric, Bachelor of Commerce
Amelia Weber, Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
Cam McEvoy, Bachelor of Science (Alumnus)
Kai Taylor, Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Zac Stubblety‑Cook, Bachelor of Business (Alumnus)
Carter Swift, Griffith Swim Club (representing New Zealand)
Milana Tapper, Griffith Swim Club (representing New Zealand)
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