Moreton Bay athletes have returned from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with 14 medals between them after strong performances across swimming, para swimming, athletics and boxing. Harrison Turner, Sam Short, Kirralee Hayes and Jye Dixon were among those recognised following the Games, with the city’s seven representatives collecting 12 gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
Their performances drew attention to sporting programs across Brisbane’s north, including Nudgee College, Genesis Aquatics and All Star Boxing Academy in Brendale. The athletes followed different pathways to the international stage but returned from Glasgow as part of the same Moreton Bay contingent.
Success In The Pool
Turner returned with four gold medals and one silver after a Commonwealth Games campaign that continued a strong period in his swimming career. The 22-year-old represents Nudgee College under coach Shaun Crowe and secured his Glasgow place after winning the 200m butterfly at the 2026 Australian Swimming Trials.
His international results had already included bronze in the 200m butterfly at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, where he set an Australian record of 1:54.17. Glasgow added another five medals to a career that has developed rapidly since his senior Dolphins debut in 2024.
Short also finished Glasgow with four gold medals, winning the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events and contributing to Australia’s victory in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. His Commonwealth Games results added to a record that already included a 400m freestyle world title and international medals across middle and long-distance freestyle events.
Hayes contributed another two medals, taking gold in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 and bronze in the 100m freestyle S13. The Brisbane-born para swimmer was a founding member of Genesis Aquatics at Genesis Christian College and continues to work with coach Rick Pendleton when she returns from her Australian Institute of Sport base in Canberra.
Her Glasgow campaign followed a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle S13 at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022. Hayes had earlier represented Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics after taking up competitive swimming at the age of 11.
Brendale Boxer Adds Gold
Dixon returned with gold in the 55kg boxing division after beginning his sporting journey at All Star Boxing Academy in Brendale when he was 12. The 21-year-old grew up in Brendale and has since collected eight Queensland titles and seven Australian titles, along with appearances at major international tournaments.
His recent progression has also included selection for a Tier 2 scholarship through the Sport Australia Hall of Fame’s 2026 Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Ms Cath Tonks said Dixon had received an Individual Achievement Grant and recognised him alongside Turner, Short, Hayes and para swimmer Lakeisha Patterson following their return from Glasgow.
City of Moreton Bay formally acknowledged its Commonwealth Games representatives at a council meeting after their return. Mr Peter Flannery described the athletes’ international performances as a source of pride for the city and recognised the work required to reach Commonwealth Games level.
The wider Moreton Bay contingent also included Patterson and athletics competitors Calab Law and Liam Adcock. Across the seven athletes, the city returned from Glasgow with 14 medals from swimming, para swimming, athletics and boxing.
Published 23-September-2026