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Joanna Guelas

Rising Aussie swim star after missing medal in Glasgow

Australia's Meg Harris is eager to go one better in the 50m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

If she can improve just "a little bit", then Australian swimmer Meg Harris reckons she'll be on target for her first individual Commonwealth Games gold medal.

The 50m freestyle silver medallist at the 2022 Birmingham Games, Harris is out to go one better in Glasgow as the Dolphins' leading sprinter.

Harris is already a Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a two-time Olympic champion, but the 24-year-old's titles have come from success in the 4x100 freestyle.

Aussies Meg Harris, Emma McKeon (c) with Shayna Jack.
Meg Harris (l) won 50m silver behind Emma McKeon (c) with Shayna Jack third at Birmingham in 2022. (AP PHOTO)

The Wodonga product says this year's 50m sprint in Glasgow is a full circle moment, having made her first senior individual race for the Dolphins in Birmingham.

Since finishing runner-up to Emma McKeon at her Commonwealth Games debut in 2022, Harris claimed an Olympic 50m freestyle silver in Paris before breaking through for her first individual world title in 2025.

Harris had clocked 24.02 seconds to claim the 50m freestyle crown in Singapore last year.

Cam McEvoy and Meg Harris have high expectations for the Australian swimming team in Glasgow. (Joanna Guelas/AAP VIDEO)

"Comm Games actually was the first team that I made an individual race for last time in Birmingham," Harris said.

"I got silver last time, so hopefully I can improve a little bit on that this time. That's one of the goals.

"Especially considering the last (Games), I was one of the young ones who transitioned on, and now I've established myself on the team.

"Hopefully, I can be a leader on this team and carry that forward."

Harris has enjoyed a rich vein of form ahead of the opening day of competition, touching in 24.08 seconds at last month's national swim trials - just shy of her career-best of 23.97, set at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With the Glasgow pool lacking US heavyweights like world record holder Gretchen Walsh (23.55), Harris' biggest rival for the 50m freestyle crown is compatriot Shayna Jack.

Jack, who will retire after Glasgow, had followed Harris to claim a bronze medal in 2022 and finished second by 0.29 seconds at last month's trials.

Shayna Jack (c) of the Australian Dolphins.
Shayna Jack (c) leads in the Aussie swim team at Glasgow Airport ahead of the Commonwealth Games. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

The pair will first join forces with Mollie O'Callaghan as the Dolphins aim to defend the women's 4x100m freestyle crown on the opening day of competition.

Harris will also take on O'Callaghan in the 100m freestyle, and is primed for a spot in the 4x100m medley line-up with backstroke ace Kaylee McKeown ruled out due to glandular fever.

"For me, it's going to be a long campaign, so (it's just) improving as I go," Harris said.

Mollie O’Callaghan (right) with Meg Harris
Mollie O’Callaghan (r) and Meg Harris will feature in Australia's 4x100m freestyle relay defence. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

"Hopefully, I start off strong with the women's 4x100 and just take it from there."

Australia's women freestylers led the way at the 2022 Games, claiming victory in all but one of the 15 races to help the nation take home 25 gold medals out of a possible 52.

The Dolphins also clinched 21 silver and 19 bronze medals, while runners-up England managed just eight golds out of a total of 32 medals.

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