There are five Indigenous athletes on the Australian Athletics Team for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, surpassing the previous record of four from Melbourne 2006.
These five young athletes: Briseis Brittain (NT, 18), Lexie Brown (NSW, 15), Calab Law (QLD, 22), Thomas McGough (VIC, 15) and Layla Sharp (NSW, 18) are all competing at their first Commonwealth Games.
They have all been inspired by previous Indigenous athletes like Catherine Freeman and Kyle Vander-Kuyp. Catherine and Kyle have provided encouragement and support to them, and Kyle is a Cultural Advisor on the Commonwealth Games Team who is excited to welcome them to the team and see them compete in Glasgow.
As well as setting high personal performance goals for themselves, they want to inspire their communities and all young Australians.
Proud Waka Waka man from Gayndah in central Queensland, Calab will race the 200m and the 4x100m relay in Glasgow. Already having achieved so much at a young age, including a bronze from the 2022 World Athletics Under 20 Championships and representing at the Olympics and World Championships, he is ready to make his mark in Glasgow.
“I am training really well and have set myself high standards for my first Commonwealth Games,” Law
said.
“We really want to win a medal in the relay and we know we can win the gold. In the 200m, I’ll be happy with making the final but I know I’m capable of an individual medal as well.”
This is Law’s sixth Australian team, but it feels different with his Indigenous teammates.
“It’s pretty cool there are five of us, and it’s nice having different mob and different people around that you know understand you. I think it’s important to acknowledge the history of Australia, all Australians and the First Nations people.
“It is one of my main goals to show, especially my nieces and nephews and my cousins, that it’s possible and we have the talent in our pinkies, and it’s literally right there. Obviously I do try and do a lot of community stuff when I can, and I see so much talent and ability that those kids have, and they could easily be doing this as well.”
Lexie Brown, who will race in the 100m T47, is the youngest ever track and field team member in Australia’s 96-year Games history. She lives in Nambucca Heads, which is Gumbainggir country, and her dad is from Moree, Kamilaroi country.
“I’m so happy to be representing my culture and hopefully inspiring more kids to someday be on a team like this too. I remember watching Cathy Freeman’s race from Sydney 2000 and with my nan and being inspired by her.”
Briseis Brittain from Ramingining in Arnhem Land, the north-east of the Northern Territory, will compete in the 200m T38 in Glasgow.
After winning the school sports day, she then joined a club in Darwin and was selected to represent the NT to compete in Melbourne aged 10. Brittain was selected for her first Australian team at the World Para Athletics Championships last year in Delhi.
“It was my dream to be selected to represent Australia like Cathy. I met her last April in Melbourne, and it was the best surprise. She told me to keep going, never give-up and believe in myself,” Briseis said.
“I hope I can get a new PB in Glasgow, that’s a big one for me. And making the most of this experience at the Commonwealth Games.”
Layla Sharp is aiming to jump five metres in the long jump T38 and break her own Australian record (4.86m). She is thriving in the team environment with some familiar faces.
“It’s pretty exciting to see a lot of Indigenous athletes on the team, and Lexie and Brisies are on our second team together, which is fantastic. I’m also really proud to be representing my mob – Biripi near Taree where I’m from and Dharug where I live now near Penrith.
“I’m hoping to jump five metres in the long jump in Glasgow. My Australian record is currently at 4.86m, and I only picked up long jump around eight months ago, so hopefully I can jump 5.
“I hope I inspire a lot of Indigenous girls back in Australia and a lot of women in general. It’s always good to encourage females in sports, so literally anyone that I can inspire, as well as people with disabilities, is important to me and to increase representation and participation.”
Thomas McGough has been thriving in the staging camp environment in Barcelona, and at just 15, he has set himself big goals
“The camp has been really fun, and this is my first time overseas. I have high hopes for Glasgow and want to win a medal and it’s going to be good,” McGough from the Mornington Peninsula said.
“I am aiming for 10.8-seconds. My Mum made a deal with me and said if I run 10.8 and win gold I can get the Longines Commonwealth Games watch. It won’t be easy but I’m hoping for that.”
McGough will be the first of the five Indigenous team members to compete in Glasgow, with the 100m T47 heats on Monday morning in Glasgow, the first athletics session of the Games.
By Andrew Reid, Commonwealth Games Australia
Posted 23/7/2026
