In four days, the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be getting under way in Scotland and all eyes will be on Team South Africa to deliver a spectacle in Glasgow against some of the top athletes and teams in the world.
The last time Team SA was in Glasgow was at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. They returned with 40 medals, including 13 gold.
This year, South Africa will be aiming to emulate what they did 12 years ago or probably even take it up a notch.
With about 112 athletes set to don the traditional green and gold colours of Team SA, we take a closer look at some of the individuals and teams that stand a good chance of completing podium finishes and returning with medals.
Akani Simbine (Athletics)
If ageing like fine wine were a person, then it would be Akani Simbine. The 32-year-old sprinter continues to show hunger and desire every time he steps onto the track.
Simbine will be competing at his fourth Commonwealth Games, highlighted by a 100m gold medal in Australia, including a silver medal in the 4x100m relay. In 2022, Simbine maintained his podium status by clinching silver at the Birmingham Games in the UK.
This year, it will no different because he will be pushing for yet another podium finish both in the individual race and relays.
Lythe Pillay (Athletics)
What makes Lythe Pillay one of the top contenders for a podium finish is that he enters the Commonwealth Games in good form, after a successful 2026 so far.
Pillay was one of the standout performers at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, where he ran a blistering 42.66-second, second-leg split to help the men’s 4x400m team win silver, which is regarded as one of the fastest splits recorded in the event.
Earlier in the year, the 23- year-old clocked an impressive world-leading 44.32 seconds at the CGA Championships in Johannesburg.
Spar Proteas (Netball)
The Spar Proteas might never have won a medal since their debut and best finish as number four in 1998, but there is a good feeling that the current team can rewrite SA netball history this year.
Coach Jenny van Dyk has assembled one of the strongest Spar Proteas netball team, which consists of several
players with international experience.
Jo-Ane du Plessis (Athletics)
Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis will be among the athletes headlining the strong Team SA as one of the contenders to complete a podium finish. The star javelin thrower returned to action at the Diamond League meet in Monaco last Friday, after back surgery in April.
Pieter Coetze (Swimming)
The 22-year-old backstroke world champion, Pieter Coetze, has had another stand- out season. Coetze is the fastest swimmer among Commonwealth nations in both the 100m and 200m backstroke and will be one of SA’s key medal prospects in the pool.
According to Coetze’s coach, Rocco Meiring, maintaining world-class performance standards remains the priority for the backstroke sensation. “The faster he is, the better. So, it’s constantly about what can be done to improve his speed so that he can keep up with what is happening in world swimming,” Meiring said, as quoted on the University of Pretoria’s website.
- The 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland will see Team South Africa aiming to match or surpass their 40-medal haul (13 gold) from their last Glasgow appearance in 2014, with 112 athletes competing.
- Sprinter Akani Simbine, a seasoned athlete with multiple Commonwealth medals including 100m gold, is expected to compete strongly in both individual sprints and relay events.
- Emerging star Lythe Pillay, in excellent form after recent successes including a silver at the World Athletics Relays, is a major medal hopeful in the 400m events.
- The Spar Proteas netball team, coached by Jenny van Dyk and featuring internationally experienced players, aims to secure their first-ever Commonwealth Games medal.
- Key individual medal prospects include javelin thrower Jo-Ane du Plessis, returning post-surgery, and world champion backstroker Pieter Coetze, noted for his remarkable speed and consistency in swimming.
In four days, the 2026
Akani
If ageing like fine wine were a person, then it would be Akani
What makes
Pillay was one of the standout performers at the World
Earlier in the year, the 23- year-old clocked an impressive world-leading 44.32 seconds at the CGA
Spar Proteas (Netball)
Coach
players with international experience.
Jo-Ane du Plessis (
Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis will be among the athletes headlining the strong Team SA as one of the contenders to complete a podium finish.
Pieter Coetze (
