Ariarne Titmus
(Australia)
Swimming
Ranks alongside Katie Ledecky as the best freestyler in the world at the moment. Skipped the recent world championships to prioritise the Games. The Australian is the reigning Olympic champion in both the 200m and 400m freestyle, making her the biggest competition for Dunedin’s Erika Fairweather.
Laura Kenny
(England)
Cycling
Only the elite of the elite get made a dame while still competing. Kenny certainly fits that bill, boasting an illustrious CV which notably includes five Olympic gold medals on the track, as well as plenty of world titles.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
(Jamaica)
Athletics
One of the greatest sprinters in the history, Fraser-Pryce won her fifth 100m world title this week in Oregon. She has won eight Olympic medals across four Games, including golds in the 100m in Beijing and London. Will be pushed hard by Olympic champion compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah, although currently has the edge.
Jerry Tuwai
(Fiji)
Rugby sevens
Another team you could take your pick from. Tuwai is coming off an injury, but his presence in favourite team Fiji will be huge. An agile livewire who does not shy away from contact, Tuwai is this generation’s Serevi and won player of the decade at World Rugby’s awards in 2020.
Geva Mentor
(England)
Netball
Plenty of stars throughout the netball squads, but Mentor never fails to influence a game. Tall, athletic and with impeccable timing, she is a constant menace in the defensive circle, nabbing ball from even the best shooters.
Ellyse Perry
(Australia)
Cricket
Take your pick of the Australian team as you look for stars on cricket’s return to the Games — there is class throughout. Perry is a rare genuine all-rounder, as capable of winning a game with the bat as much as she is with the ball.
Akani Simbine
(South Africa)
Athletics
Fourth in the 100m final at last year’s Olympics, Simbine enters as the defending Commonwealth Games champion. He will be pushed closely by Canadian Andre de Grasse in what is always one of the Games’ most-watched races.
Jonathan Brownlee
(England)
Triathlon
Perhaps past his best, but the five-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist will carry the hopes of the host country in the men’s triathlon.
Summer McIntosh
(Canada)
Swimming
Won two gold medals at the recent world championships in Budapest at just 15 years old. Also claimed silver in the 400m freestyle and will be one of Fairweather’s biggest challengers in that event — and likely through the rest of her career.
Daniel Johnson
(Australia)
3x3 basketball
Basketball will feature in its abbreviated format this time around. While this is an event New Zealand will fancy its chances in, it will have to get past a very strong Australian team, which includes elite Australian NBL forward Johnson.
