HANSEL McCaig will carry Fiji’s hopes in the pool at the 2026 Commonwealth Games as part of a seven-member swimming squad aiming to create history in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 22-year-old swimmer, who will compete alongside Reuben Taylor, Tolu Young, Samuel Yalimaiwai, Don Younger, Anahira McCutcheon and Kelera Mudunasoko, enters the games with confidence after a strong build-up leading into the competition.
McCaig said preparations have progressed well, with the team now entering the final stages of their training programme before heading to Glasgow.
“We’re in the final week of heavy training, and then we deload and taper next week. So, we should be up in our peak by Commonwealth.”
The Oceania Swimming Championships played a crucial role in McCaig’s qualification campaign, while the National Age Group Championships provided another opportunity to fine-tune his preparation.
McCaig said the Oceania Championships served as the qualifying event for the Commonwealth Games, while the national competition was used as a final preparation meet ahead of the international challenge.
With Fiji yet to secure a Commonwealth Games swimming medal, McCaig is determined to help break new ground for the sport while setting realistic targets for his campaign.
“That’s always a goal. The first step is to make the semifinals and the finals. Swimming has never won a medal there before, so it would be an honour to achieve that.”
The young swimmer believes any progress made in Glasgow will help inspire the next generation of Fijian swimmers to pursue success on the international stage.
McCaig credits his preparation to the support of his coach, who has been involved throughout his journey and helped develop his race strategy.
“It’s just trusting you’re training and your race plan and sticking to your race, not looking at what other people next to you are doing.”
His pathway into swimming began as a life-saving skill before developing into a passion that has taken him to the highest level of competition.
Beyond Glasgow, McCaig has already set his sights on the Short Course World Championships in Beijing later this year while continuing his studies.
