Eighteen-year-old swimmer Filip Nowacki won a silver medal in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final at the Commonwealth Games on Saturday, July 25, 2026. The result marks Jersey’s first Commonwealth medal in 36 years and the island’s first-ever medal in swimming.
Nowacki secured the second-place finish in Glasgow with a time of 59.34 seconds. He finished just 0.17 seconds behind Australian champion Sam Williamson, according to reporting from ITV.
Ending a 36-Year Podium Drought
This silver medal is a historic milestone for Jersey, representing the island’s first senior Commonwealth Games silver. It also ends a drought that stretched back to 1990, when Colin Mallett won the island’s only gold medal in fullbore shooting and a pairs bronze with his father, Cliff.
Nowacki is now only the fifth person to win a Commonwealth Games medal while representing Jersey. The island’s limited podium history includes bantamweight boxer John Sillitoe, who won bronze in Edinburgh in 1986, and Albert Turmel, who secured a welterweight bronze in Perth in 1962, as noted by the BBC.
Nowacki’s Path to the Senior Stage
The 18-year-old enters this competition following a dominant run in junior and regional circuits. He is the reigning double world junior champion, having won both the 100m and 200m breaststroke titles at the 2025 World Junior Championships. His trophy cabinet also includes four gold medals from the European Junior Championships.
Nowacki has consistently delivered for Jersey and the UK over the last year. At the 2025 Island Games in Orkney, he collected eight gold medals. He also transitioned successfully to senior competition in April, claiming his first senior British title in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:08.52.
Jersey Athletes Representing England
While Nowacki’s achievement is tied to representing Jersey, other islanders have historically found success by competing for England. These include diver Dot Macready, who won 10m gold in 1934, and Serena Guthrie, who was part of the gold-winning netball team in 2018.
Other notable England-affiliated achievements for islanders include Rebecca Herbert’s bronze with the hockey team in 2006, as well as 2002 bronze medals won by Elizabeth Cann in badminton and swimmer Simon Militis in the 200m backstroke.
Upcoming Events and Medal Potential
Nowacki’s campaign in Glasgow is far from over. He is scheduled to return to the pool for the 50m breaststroke on Sunday, and will compete in the 200m event on Tuesday.
With two events remaining, Nowacki has the immediate opportunity to equal Colin Mallett as the only islander to win two medals. Given his recent trajectory, he is positioned to potentially become the most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete in the history of the island.
A Shift in Jersey’s Sporting Profile
For decades, Jersey’s rare Commonwealth success was concentrated in boxing and shooting. Nowacki’s silver doesn’t just break a time barrier; it diversifies the island’s athletic identity by delivering its first-ever swimming medal. By beating an Olympic champion in a senior final, Nowacki has shifted the ceiling for what Jersey athletes can achieve on the global stage.
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