First published 4 August 2026
QUT students have claimed 14 medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, collectively bringing home eight gold medals, one silver and five bronze.
They included Australian Dolphins star Sam Short who dominated in the pool and won four gold medals.
Sam, who is studying business at QUT, won individual gold in the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyles, and a fourth gold in the 4x200m relay team.
Engineering and maths student Jamie Jack has also returned home to Brisbane with Glasgow gold.
The Dolphins debutant received two gold medals for his heat swims with Australia’s winning 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay teams, and secured a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.
The Australian gold rush included QUT engineering student Edward Sommerville, who was also swimming in his first Commonwealth Games. He made a perfect debut, winning two gold medals in his two events – the 4x100m freestyle relay (heat swim) and 4x200m freestyle relay (heat and final swim).
Over on the track, IT student Ullrich Muller sprinted his way to silver in the men’s 100m T38 para-sprinting final at Scotstoun Stadium in his first Games, after a breakout year in 2025.
In men’s artistic gymnastics, James Hardy was another athlete to make an amazing Games debut, claiming three bronze medals in artistic gymnastics. The QUT engineering student was also awarded individual bronze for his floor and rings routines and helped the Aussies break a 16-year medal drought in the men’s team competition.
Medical ultrasound student Cara Koenen was part of the bronze-medal winning Australian Diamonds netball team. Her strong performance throughout the tournament included 57 goals in Australia’s final group match against Northern Ireland.
The students are all part of the QUT Elite Sport Program, which provides practical support for elite athletes and sports officials who are combining training, competition and study.
QUT’s Director of Sport, Rosa Boyd, said all nine QUT students who competed in Glasgow had done their countries proud.
“With a strong history of supporting elite athletes and sporting achievement, we understand the dedication required to balance university studies with the demands of high-level sport,” she said.
“We are incredibly proud of our student athletes, who demonstrate every day what can be achieved through commitment, discipline and determination.”
QUT is a gold member of the Australian Institute of Sport’s Elite Sport Education Network (ESEN) and offers a range of support and scholarships through the Elite Sport Program.
Athletes can find out more about the program, scholarships and the university’s elite sport entry scheme here.
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT Media, media@qut.edu.au
Pictured (top row, left to right) are Australian Dolphins stars Sam Short, Jamie Jack and Ed Sommerville and (lower row, left to right) para-sprinter Ullrich Muller, gymnast James Hardy and Australian Diamonds goal shooter Cara Koenen.
