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Pinch me, I'm Glasgow bound

Having earned an accolade from swimming great Katie Ledecky, Australian Catholic University student athlete Tiana Kritzinger is targeting another unbelievable experience at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Key points:

• Five current or alumni ACU student athletes will represent Australia at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
• Swimmers Tiana Kritzinger and Jessica Cole will make their Commonwealth Games debuts
• 34 ACU students and alumni have previously competed at Commonwealth Games

Tiana is one of five current or former ACU Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAPP) members bound for the Games which commence on July 23.

Gymnast Emily Whitehead (Bachelor of Education) will attend her third Commonwealth Games and swimmer Jessica Cole (Bachelor of Education) will make her Games debut.

Butterfly swimmer, Alexandria Perkins (Bachelor of Physiotherapy), is again on the team. She made her Games debut four years ago at Birmingham where she won a gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.

ACU alum, race walker Declan Tingay, is off to his second Games after winning silver at Birmingham in 2022.

South African born Tiana had an otherworldly moment in Chicago in March when congratulated by Ledecky after finishing second to the nine-time Olympic gold medallist in the 1500m freestyle at a Pro Series event.

The 21-year-old Bachelor of High Performance Sport student has been a member of the senior national team since 2024 but this will be her first major international multi-sport event.

“This is what everyone works for,” Tiana said.

“I can’t wait to put on the uniform and experience the atmosphere of a Commonwealth Games.”

In one sense, the student athlete cohort has already succeeded.

Not only have they met their goal to represent Australia amongst more than 3000 athletes from 74 nations, they have done so while successfully juggling sport with an academic program.

ACU’s EAPP supports their ambitions with a range of measures, including timetabling assistance, mentoring and flexible academic plans.

“What they have already achieved is remarkable,” ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Zlatko Skrbis said.

“ACU recognises the importance of sport and academic achievement in student life and we’re enormously proud to support these dedicated athletes in pursuit of their goals.”

Tiana, who will contest the 1500m and 800m freestyle in Glasgow, said the EAPP team has provided invaluable support as her travel commitments have increased.

“I’ve been overseas half the semester so the timetable and communication support has been really helpful,” she said of the demanding competition schedule that has taken her to the US, Spain and Italy this year.