Australian swimming star Iona Anderson has her sights firmly set on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after making a triumphant and injury-free return to competition.
Strong Return After Frustrating Layoff
The 20-year-old Olympic medallist marked her comeback at the Japan Open in late November 2025, securing a impressive second place in the women's 100m backstroke final with a sub-minute time of 59.92 seconds. She also claimed silver in the 50m final, clocking 27.21 seconds.
These races were her first since the Victorian Open in February, after which a back disc injury forced her into a lengthy period of rest and rehabilitation. This setback ruled her out of the world swimming championships, providing a frustrating follow-up to a stellar 2024.
Rehab Journey and Scottish Training Stint
Anderson's rehabilitation involved a significant stint overseas. She spent two months at the University of Stirling in Scotland, working with former West Australian Institute of Sport head swimming coach Ben Higson.
"I had a bit of a niggle earlier this year and I was managing it for a good couple of months," Anderson told The West Australian. "It turned out to be a bit worse than I thought. So I decided to take the break to rehab my back properly so I could set myself up better for the Commonwealth Games."
Her recovery was gradual and challenging. She started swimming just three kilometres a week, slowly building back to her normal training load of 35-45 kilometres per week in preparation for major meets.
Road to Glasgow and Beyond
Anderson's immediate focus is now on the Australian trials in Sydney in June 2026, where she will aim to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland (July 23 - August 2). A quick turnaround will then see her target the Pan Pacific championships in Irvine, California, from August 12-15.
Reflecting on her journey, Anderson shared on Instagram: "Rehab and recovery has been a long journey to date, with ups and downs and probably more still to come. I'm lucky to be back doing what I love."
Her impressive resume includes a silver medal in the women's 400m medley relay and a bronze in the mixed 400m medley relay (prelims) at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She also finished fifth in the 100m backstroke, where she was the youngest individual finalist by three-and-a-half years.
Considered a genuine medal prospect for the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Anderson's successful return from injury is a major boost for Australian swimming as she charts her course towards Glasgow.
