JERSEY’S swimmers made their mark at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre across a packed programme of heats on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games.
Following Thursday night’s spectacular opening ceremony at the OVO Hydro, the Games burst into life on Friday morning.
The atmosphere inside the Tollcross pool has been electric, with the vocal home support creating a wall of noise throughout the session.
Filip Nowacki continued to showcase his class on the biggest stage by qualifying for Friday evening’s 100m Breaststroke semi-finals with the third-fastest time. The Jerseyman cruised through in 59.93 seconds to book his place in tonight’s race at 8.31pm.
Nowacki was bettered only by world record holder Adam Peaty and Australia’s Sam Williamson.
Despite a lengthy delay before Peaty’s heat, the Englishman reminded everyone exactly why he remains the man to beat.
Elsewhere, Jersey’s swimmers impressed across a variety of events. The morning began with 17-year-old Hannah Sterry and 18-year-old Clara Ginnis in the women’s 400m freestyle.
Ginnis rose to the occasion, producing a two-second personal best of 4:26.73, while Sterry won her heat in 4:32.09 despite the added pressure of being the first athlete to enter the pool at the 2026 Games.
Ginnis was delighted with her performance, saying: “I’m really pleased with the race. A personal best in my first heat of the Commonwealth Games, I can’t complain.”
Next up, brothers Isaac and Oscar Dodds took to the pool in the men’s 200m individual medley, with both producing strong performances.
Isaac, the elder of the two, finished fourth in his heat in 2:06.65, while Oscar clocked 2:11.27.
Oscar said: “There’s always a bit of healthy competition between us. He’s [Isaac] probably more competitive than I am, but we both love it and we definitely push each other to perform at our best.”
Isaac was equally pleased with his swim.
“I was really happy with the swim. It’s probably the best I’ve raced in a couple of years.”
The pair also spoke of the incredible atmosphere inside the arena.
“Every time I took a breath I could hear the crowd, which was really special. It’s an atmosphere unlike anything else,” Isaac added.
Oscar returned to the pool later in the session and was arguably even happier with his second swim, setting a personal best of 28.12 in the 50m backstroke. Isaac Thompson also impressed in the same event, recording 27.49 in a competitive field.
Thompson is relishing his first Commonwealth Games experience.
“The atmosphere here is incredible and I’m really buzzing to be a part of it.
“You can hear and feel the crowd when you’re in the pool. Walking out, I had goosebumps and it definitely gives you that extra boost before the race.”
Megan Hansford was the other Jersey swimmer to compete twice on the opening day.
The 19-year-old produced an excellent 2:21.44 in the 200m backstroke, narrowly missing out on a place in the final after finishing just four places outside the qualification spots.
Hansford was back in the pool just 25 minutes later for the 50m butterfly, where she finished fifth in her heat in 29.21.
The morning concluded with Matthew Deffains and Samuel Sterry making their Commonwealth Games debuts alongside Isaac and Oscar Dodds in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Deffains led off before Sterry took over, with the Dodds brothers bringing home the relay to round off an impressive opening morning for Team Jersey on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
Bowls
DAY 1 proved a fruitful one for Jersey in the Bowls arena.
Making their Commonwealth Games debuts, Sara Douglas and Fiona Archibald shook up the Ladies’ Pairs competition to overcome the odds and stun Scotland’s pair of World number 40 Beth Riva and skip Caroline Brown.
Jersey started strong to take the opening set 3-2 in what was a very tightly contested battle, before Scotland then hit back to dominate the second set 10-0.
With everything on the line heading into the tiebreaker, Douglas and Archibald kept calm to win 1-0 and seal their debut wins.
“It’s amazing, absolutely amazing – we’ve played together for so long and to get the win against the home nation, while being so proud to represent Jersey, is amazing,” said a delighted Douglas.
Her teammate Archibald, added: “There was pressure on the tiebreaker, but that’s where we work well, as we support and play for each other.”
Meanwhile, Taylor Greechan was up against Cook Islands’ Royden Aperau in his second match in the Men’s Singles Sectional Group A.
After suffering defeat in his opening match on Thursday, the 20-year-old showed great improvement to win the first set 5-4.
But his adversary picked up the pace and gained momentum to win the second set 9-2, before then coming out of the tiebreaker on top 2-0.
Tomorrow’s swimming action is detailed below;
Bowls
Women’s Pairs Sectional Group D
Norfolk Island v Jersey (Sara Douglas/Fiona Archibald) [5.50pm]
Men’s Singles Sectional Group A
Taylor Greechan v Modisaotsile Mphotho [7.15pm]
