(2022 Getty Images)
Swimming is set to be one of the most exciting events of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with Adam Peaty, Ariarne Titmus, Emma McKeon, Duncan Scott, and Tatjana Schoenmaker set for their first major international meet of the year.
Those Olympic gold medallists will be joined by a host of recently-crowned world champions in Birmingham like Canada’s Summer McIntosh, while Australia’s popstar-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson will be making his international debut.
With so much star power on show, expect records to be broken, stars to be unearthed, and history to be made at the brand new Sandwell Aquatics Centre.
Below, we take a deeper look at the athletes expected to light up the competition, the schedule, and how to watch the action.
MORE: Commonwealth Games 2022: Preview, schedule, how to watch the global stars in action
You can follow all the action via our live update blog article on Olympics.com.
(2022 Getty Images)
When breaststroke king Adam Peaty broke his foot in May meaning that he’d miss Worlds, returning for the Commonwealth Games became his focus.
The men’s 100m world record holder is fuelled by emotion, so expect fireworks when he lines up in the colours of England.
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus took a well-earned break after winning women’s 200 and 400 freestyle gold and 800m silver at Tokyo 2020, and is the heavy favourite to win those three events in Birmingham.
Despite not competing at the World Championships the 21-year-old is in the form of her life, having broken the 400 freestyle world record in May this year at the Australian National Champs.
Emma McKeon won a record seven medals at Tokyo 2020, and it will be fascinating to see the 100m freestyle reigning Olympic champion lock horns with her Aussie compatriot, and freshly-crowned world champion in the event, Mollie O’Callaghan.
Another star of the 2022 World Championships to keep an eye out for is Summer McIntosh. Canada’s 15-year-old sensation won the 200m butterfly and 400 medley, and will look to challenge Titmus in the 400 free.
McIntosh will be joined in Birmingham by other 2022 world champions Kylie Masse of Canada, Englishman Ben Proud, and Australians Zac Stubblety-Cook, Kaylee McKeown.
Elsewhere, Scotland’s versatile Duncan Scott will be looking to make up for lost time after missing Worlds with COVID, and his anticipated battle in the men’s 200m freestyle with England’s reigning Olympic champion Tom Dean should be one for the ages.
It is yet to be seen if Scott will defend his 100m freestyle title against Rio 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers.
Olympic champion Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa is odds on to do the breaststroke double, while her teammate Chad le Clos is on the cusp of history.
The Rio 2016 Olympic champion needs one more medal to match Australia's Philip Adams and Englishman Michael Gault as the most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete of all time. Le Clos is a 50, 100 and 200 men's butterfly medal favourite for Birmingham 2022.
Canada’s women’s 100m butterfly Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil is set to compete in individual events, after focussing on relays at Worlds.
But the Commonwealth Games are also a breeding ground for new talent, so watch out for popstar-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson who will be making his international debut for Australia.
All times are British Summer Time (GMT/UTC+1)
10.30am-12.30pm
7pm-10pm
10.30am-12.30pm
7pm-10pm
10.30am-12.30pm
7pm-10pm
10.30am-12.30pm
7pm-10pm
10.30am-12.30pm
7pm-10pm
10.30am-12.30pm
7pm-10pm
UK: BBC TV, Radio, iPlayer
Canada: CBC Sports, CBC Sports app
Australia: Channel 7, 7Plus
New Zealand: Sky, TVNZ
India: Sony LIV
Further streaming details can be found on the Commonwealth Games website here.
You can follow all the action via our live update blog article on Olympics.com.