UQ student Ryven Ewing will represent Australia at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
(Photo credit: Callum Wood
)
A rare opportunity awaits Ryven Ewing as he heads to Glasgow for his Commonwealth Games debut, with the weightlifter set to wear the green and gold in the country he once called home.
Born and raised in Scotland until the age of 8, The University of Queensland student said the chance to represent Australia in front of family and lifelong friends adds extra meaning to his Commonwealth Games debut.
“It’ll be so special for people who have been such an important part of my journey to be there and watch,” Ewing said.
“It feels like I’m bringing 2 different worlds together.”
The Commonwealth Games have been a long-term goal for the 24-year-old since he made the difficult decision to leave rugby union behind and focus on weightlifting.
Away from the platform, Ewing is studying a Master of Physiotherapy Studies at UQ.
His growing knowledge of human movement, recovery and performance provides a unique perspective ahead of the biggest competition of his career.
“Physiotherapy and weightlifting complement each other really well,” he said.
“Both are about understanding how the human body moves, and that knowledge definitely helps me as an athlete and as a clinician.
“Technique is a massive part of weightlifting – sometimes I wish it was just brute strength, but there are lots of small technical details that can help you make much better use of your strength.”
Ewing is one of 11 weightlifters selected for Australia and arrives in Glasgow after a strong qualifying campaign that included a silver-medal performance at the Oceania Championships.
Despite the accolades, he remains focused on personal progress rather than podium places.
“For me, weightlifting is less about beating other people and more about trying to be better than I was,” Ewing said.
“If I can improve on my own performances, I know I’ll usually end up in a pretty good position.”
While Ewing prepares to experience the Commonwealth Games stage for the first time, fellow UQ student Harrison Vig knows exactly what to expect.
The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Science student is preparing to take valuable lessons from his previous Commonwealth Games performance into what promises to be an exciting second campaign.
The Brisbane para-swimmer first represented Australia at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he announced himself on the international stage with a 4th-place finish in the men’s S9 100 metres backstroke.
Ewing and Vig are just 2 members of the UQ community who will represent Australia in Glasgow. See the full list below.
UQ’s Commonwealth Games representatives
| Name | Sport | UQ affiliation |
| Liam Adcock | Long Jump | Graduate: Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Economics ’19 |
| Victoria Belando Nicholson | Para swimming | UQ Swim Club member |
| Elizabeth Dekkers | Swimming | Student: Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) |
| Ryven Ewing | Weightlifting | Student: Master of Physiotherapy Studies |
Cara Feain-Ryan | Athletics | Graduate: Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) ’24 |
| Hannah Fredericks | Swimming | Student: Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) |
| Aiden Frick | Gymnastics (reserve squad member) | Student: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts |
| Monique Hanlon | Athletics | UQ Athletics Club member |
Jack Ireland | Para swimming | UQ Swim Club member |
| Cara Koenen | Netball | Graduate: Master of Molecular Imaging Technology ’25 |
| Jacqui Mengler-Mohr | Para cycling (pilot) | Graduate: Certificate in Sports Coaching, Physical Education Teaching and Coaching ’25 |
Thomas Neill | Swimming | Student: Bachelor of Advanced Business (Honours) |
Lakeisha Patterson | Para swimming | Graduate: Bachelor of Communication ’25 |
| Harrison Vig | Para swimming | Student: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Bachelor of Science |
UQ students Hannah Fredericks, Aiden Frick and Harrison Vig.
(Photo credit: Callum Wood)
