Who is commentating on the Women's 100m Backstroke Semifinals at Glasgow 2026 CWG and where to watch in the UK

Match date: 25 July 2026

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games swimming continues with the Women’s 100m Backstroke Semifinals, and UK viewers can watch live on HBO Max in the UK, as well as on TNT Sports 4 HD. According to the published schedule, the semifinals are set for 19:00 British Summer Time at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, making this one of the evening’s key medal-contending events.[1][2]

The coverage team for this session features James Parrack on main commentary, with Grace Harvey and Michael Jamieson joining as co-commentators. That mix brings together established swimming knowledge and recent elite racing experience, which should help viewers follow the tactical details of the race, including turn speed, underwater phases and lane positioning.

James Parrack is a familiar voice in British swimming coverage and has long been associated with national and international aquatic broadcasts. Michael Jamieson is particularly well known to British audiences as an Olympic silver medallist in the 200m breaststroke at London 2012, giving the commentary team first-hand insight from a world-class athlete who has competed on the biggest stages. Grace Harvey brings paralympic pedigree and elite-level swimming knowledge, adding another layer of technical and athlete-centred analysis to the broadcast.

The women’s 100m backstroke is one of the standout sprint events in the programme, and the schedule confirms that the semifinals are part of a two-day competition window, with heats earlier on 25 July and the final the following day.[1] For British viewers, the event sits within TNT Sports’ wider Commonwealth Games coverage, while the British Swimming website notes that access to TNT Sports services may require a subscription and that evening highlights will also be available free-to-air on Channel 5.[2]

That makes the event easy to follow whether you want the full live broadcast or a highlights package later in the day. For swimming fans, the appeal is not just the race itself but the quality of the presenting and punditry, with a broadcast line-up designed to explain the nuances of an event where hundredths of a second can decide who reaches the final.

The race takes place at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, a venue strongly associated with high-level swimming and major championships. The setting adds extra significance for anyone following the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, especially with home interest likely to be strong across the British and global audience.

For more on the competition and venue, see the official Commonwealth Games swimming event information and schedule coverage, including the women’s 100m backstroke timetable and session details.[1]

Article generated: 25 July 2026, 19:40 GMT