Thomas McGough

Thomas McGough will make his debut in the green and gold of Australia at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The T38 athlete will compete in the 100m. When he lines up in Glasgow, he will be aged 15 years and 320 days and the youngest male in the Australian Athletics team. In our 96 year history, he is also the second youngest male to represent Australia in Athletics at the Games.

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Ahead of starting his journey in athletics in Year 6 at school, Tom McGough competed in gymnastics, indoor soccer and at local surf lifesaving events for nippers. He has continued in Nippers and in 2025 passed his bronze medallion. “My favourite events were always beach flags and beach sprints because I loved running fast and racing against other people.”

In his last year in Primary school, he competed in swimming, cross country and athletics, making it to the State Championships in all three. He was making progression, first to the Australian Championships in cross country, then the next year in XC and athletics. All this while competing at State level in swimming and triathlon.

At the National XC, his mother asked the team manager about how Tom could get into athletics because he wasn’t part of a club or being coached. He then joined Mornington Peninsula Athletics Club and started training with Craig Mahony.

“Looking back now, that conversation completely changed where I am today.”

He has gone on to be a regular at club, State League, State and Australian Championships. He competes in 100m right through to the 3000m, as well as long jump and hammer throw and received an award as the Most Valuable Athlete (MVA) after scoring the most points across the whole season. He currently holds six Australian records.

A key turning point was in 2025 when he was selected for the Future Green and Gold Paralympic Talent Search and got the chance to do an eight-week multisport program at the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). “It was an awesome experience. I learnt heaps, got to train with great coaches and athletes, and made some really good mates along the way.”

With the T38 100m event at the Commonwealth Games, the 100m race was now on Tom’s radar and a 12+ second sprinter, he dipped under 12 seconds for the first time in later November, clocking 11.97 seconds. He ran another eight sub-12 times, including a terrific PB of 11.44 seconds at the Perth Track Classic. “That time moved me up to third in the Commonwealth rankings and helped me qualify for the Commonwealth Games.”

In January 2026 he also received his international classification as a T38 athlete and in May was selected for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Most influential person in your career: Jayden Page because he has always been there for me and he is one of Australia’s quickest para athletes ever; and my coaches…Advice to your young self: Progress takes time. Just keep showing up, keep putting in the work every day, and don’t quit. Every little step adds up, and before you know if you’ll be way closer than you ever thought…Hobbies: Running, playing the piano and playing computer games and PS5…Sporting ambition: To run well at this Commonwealth Games, to make a world championship team and to ultimately win a medal at the Paralympics…Memorable sporting achievement: Running at a PB at the Perth Track Classic where I ran my qualifying time for the Commonwealth Games, and then running at the Maurie Plant Track Classic in Melbourne at my home track in front of the huge crowd was amazing…Hero: Evan O’Hanlon and Usain Bolt. I look up to Usain Bolt because of his incredible achievements, confidence, and the way he changed the sport of sprinting. He showed that hard work and self-belief can lead to greatness. I also look up to Evan O’Hanlon because of his determination and resilience. Despite the challenges he faced, he became one of Australia’s most successful Paralympic sprinters and inspires others to never let obstacles stop them from pursuing their goals. Both athletes motivate me to push myself every day and strive to be the best version of myself on and off the track…Education: High school, student Padua College…Other sports: swimming and triathlon…Interesting fact: has two dogs Bronson and Murphy and plays the piano and tuba.

@ 2 July 2026 David.tarbotton@athletics.org.au