Nina Kennedy will carry the Australian flag within the Glasgow 2026 opening ceremony earlier than she tries to defend her Commonwealth Video games pole vault title.
Kennedy is the primary of the Australian athletics crew to the touch down in Glasgow, with the monitor and area program not beginning till Monday.
“I’m so proud to comply with within the footsteps of so many nice Australians who’ve carried the flag earlier than me. The Commonwealth Video games have all the time meant a lot to me; it is the place I received my first medal again in 2018,” Kennedy stated.
“That is my third Video games, and I am fortunate sufficient to be defending my title. My last is not till later within the week, so I will get a little bit of a sleep-in the morning after.
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“I’ve labored with our crew to ensure I am as ready as I could be, and there is no model of the Video games the place I would miss the possibility to hold that flag.”
Kennedy received gold in Birmingham after claiming silver 4 years earlier on the Gold Coast.
Since then she has damaged the Australian file, grow to be a world champion in 2023 and received Olympic gold in 2024.
A torn hamstring worn out her 2025 season, together with the possibility to defend her world title final 12 months, however she has returned to competitors with out lacking a beat in 2026, breaking the nationwide file for a tenth time simply two weeks in the past in Monaco.
“I’ve had a protracted highway with accidents to get again up to now, so to be trusted with this now, on prime of every thing else to this point this season, means greater than I can actually put into phrases,” she stated.
Kennedy will likely be joined by one other reigning gold medallist, para swimmer Tim Hodge, who will carry the King’s Baton at Friday morning’s (AEST) ceremony on the Hydro.
Hodge is defending SB9 100m backstroke gold from Birmingham. (Reuters: Jeremy Lee)
Hodge’s worldwide journey started in Glasgow as a 14-year-old on the 2015 Para Swimming World Championships.
2026 marks his third Commonwealth Video games, the place he’ll attempt to defend the SB9 100m backstroke gold he received in Birmingham.
“I have been fortunate sufficient to compete at two Commonwealth Video games already, and I’ve watched the crew come into the stadium each occasions and felt a lot satisfaction watching the inexperienced and gold strolling in,” Hodge stated.
Australia’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Video games baton. (Equipped: Commonwealth Video games Australia)
“To now have that function myself, to have it occur in Glasgow of all locations, the identical metropolis the place I made my worldwide debut, means the Video games already really feel particular.
“It is the primary time that I will march too. I am often competing first day. I am unable to wait to really feel the joy.”
The baton relay began at Buckingham Palace in March final 12 months, when King Charles III put his full message into Scotland’s baton.
In contrast to earlier years, each nation has their very own, every containing one phrase of the message, which will likely be learn in full by the King on the opening ceremony.
It is usually the primary time a King’s baton has been carried for the Commonwealth Video games, with the royal custom beginning on the 1958 Cardiff Video games, 5 years after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
