Former and current Olympic winners will be the main attraction at Glasgow, Scotland, this week in a bid to achieve further success at the Commonwealth Games 2026. CWG 2026 is the 23rd edition of the Games which will take place between July 23 and August 2 at four different venues. 3,000 athletes representing 74 countries will compete in 10 major sports.
With 215 gold medals up for grabs, several outstanding female athletes will be defining the competition. Below are 5 standout female athletes to look out for at CWG 2026 based on their recent performance and Commonwealth Games record.
The total number of gold medals to be won in 11 days' time is 215 and some of them belong to the former Olympic winners who wish to make further achievements. Among
them are Shericka Jackson, Mirabai Chanu, Emma Finucane, Lovlina Borgohain, and Kaylee McKeown.
Five Star Women Athletes to Watch at CWG 2026
1. Shericka Jackson (Jamaica - Athletics)
Shericka Jackson is undoubtedly a standout star in the world of sprinting. She clinched the silver medal in the women's 200m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and is making her way back to Glasgow as a key member of Jamaica's 4x100m relay team. With a personal best of 21.41 seconds in the 200m, she proudly holds the title of the second-fastest woman ever. Jackson's impressive resume also includes five Olympic medals, featuring a gold in the relay at Tokyo 2020, along with a silver and three bronze medals from the Rio and Tokyo Games.
2. Mirabai Chanu (India - Weightlifting)
Mirabai Chanu is stepping into Glasgow with her sights set on clinching a third consecutive gold at the Commonwealth Games. After snagging silver in Glasgow back in 2014, she went on to shine with gold medals at the Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022. Her personal best lift is an impressive 205kg. Not to mention, she also brought home an Olympic silver from Tokyo 2020, lifting a total of 202kg, which makes her one of India's top contenders for medals once again.
3. Emma Finucane (Wales - Track Cycling)
Emma Finucane has rapidly established herself as one of the top riders in track cycling. She made a splash at her Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham 2022, where she snagged two bronze medals, and now she’s setting her sights on gold right at home. A three-time world champion, she also holds the world record in the team sprint. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Finucane made history as the first British woman in six decades to win three cycling medals in a single Olympics, bringing home one gold and two bronze medals.
4. Lovlina Borgohain (India - Boxing)
Lovlina Borgohain touches down in Glasgow with a wave of anticipation surrounding her. After finishing in the quarter-finals at the last two Commonwealth Games, she’s already guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the 75kg category, thanks to her direct spot in the semi-finals. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist made history by becoming India’s world champion in the 75kg division in 2023, and she also made it to the quarter-finals at Paris 2024 after stepping up to a higher weight class.
5. Kaylee McKeown (Australia - Swimming)
Kaylee McKeown truly made a splash at Birmingham 2022, clinching an impressive four gold medals, along with a silver and a bronze. She holds the world record for the women's 200m backstroke, clocking in at an astonishing 2:03.14. As a five-time Olympic champion, she has celebrated back-to-back wins in both the 100m and 200m backstroke at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Even though she had to pull out of Glasgow 2026 due to glandular fever, her remarkable accomplishments highlight why she’s considered one of the standout athletes of her generation.
