Comeback star, swim champ to lead Aussies at ceremony

Roger Vaughan | July 23, 2026

Pole vault star Nina Kennedy and decorated para-swimmer Tim Hodge will lead the Australian team at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Kennedy will carry the flag and Hodge will be the Games baton bearer when the team marches out on Thursday night (early Friday morning AEST) at Glasgow’s Hydro indoor arena.

While Kennedy will be the 24th Australian to carry the flag at a Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the baton bearer is a new honour.

Rather than a single King’s baton, for the first time all 74 countries and territories were given their own to decorate and bring to the opening ceremony.

King Charles III started the main Scotland baton relay in March last year and it contains the full message he will read at the opening ceremony. The other batons each contain one word from his message.

Kennedy and Hodge won gold four years ago at the Birmingham Games and remain at the peak of their sports.

After winning pole vault gold at the Paris Olympics, Kennedy needed an extended break because of a hamstring injury.

But Kennedy showed only last week that she will be one of the top competitors in Glasgow, breaking the Australian record with her 4.95m vault to win the Monaco Diamond League.

Her personal-best vault was the fifth-highest in history by a woman. It was also the highest jump in the women’s event for the past five years.

“I’ve had a long road with injuries to get back to this point, so to be trusted with this now, on top of everything else so far this season, means more than I can really put into words,” Kennedy said.

“My final isn’t until later in the week, so I will get a bit of a sleep-in the morning after.

“I’ve worked with our team to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be, and there’s no version of the Games where I’d miss the chance to carry that flag.”

This will be Kennedy’s third Commonwealth Games, having won bronze on the Gold Coast in 2018.

Hodge likewise is a decorated two-time Commonwealth Games star, winning two silver medals on the Gold Coast and then gold at Birmingham in the S9 100m backstroke.

He won the 200m individual medley SM9 at the Paris Paralympics and was also a member of the victorious mixed 4x100m medley relay 34 points team.

Hodge has won two world titles and holds the world record for the S9 200m IM.

“I’ve watched the team come into the stadium both times and felt so much pride watching the green and gold walking in,” Hodge said.

“To now have that role myself, to have it happen in Glasgow of all places, the same city where I made my international debut, means the Games already feel special.

“It’s the first time that I’ll march too, I’m usually competing first day. I can’t wait to feel the excitement.”

Australian team chef de mission Petria Thomas said Kennedy and Hodge richly deserved their honours.

“It was such a pleasure to ask Nina and Tim to take on these roles … they provide real leadership within their sports and more broadly across the team,” Thomas said.

“Each of them has longevity, character and humility, and the support of the whole Australian sporting community behind them.”