For many young swimmers diving into the pool at Wellers Hill Water Ratz, Zac Stubblety-Cook’s journey is a reminder that big dreams can begin close to home.
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The Brisbane-born Olympic champion has been selected in Australia’s Dolphins team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. At 27, Stubblety-Cook will again represent the green and gold as one of a 60-strong Australian swimming squad that brings together experienced champions and emerging talent.
His selection is another proud moment for the local swimming community, with Wellers Hill Water Ratz recognised as the club where he began his swimming journey before progressing through the Australian high-performance pathway.
Stubblety-Cook’s rise has been one of Australian swimming’s standout success stories. Over a remarkable 12-month period between 2021 and 2022, he became Olympic champion, world champion and Commonwealth Games champion in the 200m breaststroke, while also setting a world record in the event.
He made his Commonwealth Games debut on the Gold Coast in 2018 before reaching the top step of the podium four years later at Birmingham, where he won gold in the 200m breaststroke and added a silver medal in the medley relay.
Strong Australian team heads to Glasgow
Commonwealth Games Australia has named 42 swimmers alongside the nation’s Para swimmers to form the Dolphins squad for Glasgow, where competition will run from 23 July to 2 August 2026.
The Australian team includes many of the country’s biggest names, among them Kaylee McKeown, Kyle Chalmers, Cameron McEvoy, Mollie O’Callaghan, Sam Short, Lani Pallister, Tim Hodge and Lakeisha Patterson. The squad also features a strong group of debutants, reflecting the balance of established performers and emerging athletes selected for the Games.
Among the swimmers are inspiring stories of resilience and promise. Sam Williamson returns after recovering from a serious knee injury, while 14-year-old Para swimmer Mia Hogan will make history as the youngest member of Australia’s Glasgow swimming team.
Australia will be aiming to improve on the Dolphins’ haul of 25 swimming gold medals at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Swimming is set to play an even bigger role in Glasgow, with the 2026 Games featuring the largest Commonwealth Games swimming program to date. The inclusion of the women’s 1500m freestyle and men’s 800m freestyle will expand the competition and create new medal opportunities.
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For swimmers training at Wellers Hill Water Ratz today, seeing one of the club’s alumni continue to compete on the international stage offers an inspiring example of what dedication and perseverance can achieve.
As the countdown to Glasgow continues, local supporters will once again have every reason to watch when Stubblety-Cook steps onto the blocks in Australian colours. His selection adds valuable experience to the Dolphins team while highlighting how community swim clubs continue to play an important role in developing athletes who go on to represent Australia on the world stage.
Published 6-July-2026