Two of Australia's most recognisable former athletes — swimmer Johanna Griggs and sprinter Matt Shirvington — are heading to Glasgow as television hosts for the 2024 Commonwealth Games, which kicks off on July 24 at 4.45am with the opening ceremony. More than 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete, but when asked whether they could have held their own against today's competitors in their prime, both are refreshingly honest: probably not.

A Scaled-Back Games, but Relief It's Happening at All

This year's Commonwealth Games looks considerably different from its predecessors. After Victoria withdrew from hosting duties in 2023, Glasgow stepped in to stage a streamlined version of the event featuring just 10 sports, down from the 19 on the program at the Birmingham Games in 2022.

Griggs, who won a bronze medal in the 100-metre backstroke at the 1990 Games in Auckland, says the sporting community's overwhelming reaction has been relief rather than disappointment.

"To be perfectly honest, I think they're over the moon that it got picked up," she says. "Everyone was a bit shocked when Melbourne made the announcement that they were going. I think there are a lot of people that wondered whether or not that would be the death knell for the Commonwealth Games, and there was a huge amount of relief."

She acknowledges that athletes in the sports that missed the cut would be "completely and utterly devastated," but emphasises the broader sentiment: the Games are on, and that matters.

The Commonwealth Games as a Career Launchpad

For both Griggs and Shirvington, the Commonwealth Games occupy a deeply personal place in their sporting stories. Griggs was just 16 when she competed in Auckland, going on to medal at the World Championships the following year — though she never made it to an Olympics. She credits the Games with launching her swimming career entirely.

"It holds a special place in my heart because it was some of the most extraordinary memories," she says.

Shirvington, who competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2006 and now co-hosts breakfast television, describes the event as an essential rite of passage for emerging athletes.

"It is the ultimate stepping stone for any young athlete coming through," he says. "It's almost like going to university for elite sports, it really teaches you so much. Any time wearing the green and gold is a proud moment."

He points to legends such as Ian Thorpe and Cathy Freeman as examples of iconic Australian athletes who built their reputations through the Commonwealth Games.

Australia Tipped to Dominate the Medal Table Again

Shirvington is bullish about Australia's prospects in Glasgow. At the 2022 Birmingham Games, Australia topped the medal tally with 180 medals, narrowly ahead of England's 176. He expects a similar result this time around.

"Yeah, we'll top it again," he says. "There's 200 gold medals up for grabs at these Games and we will by far top the medal table. I think a lot of those medals will come both in track and field and in swimming."

He does caution that competition across the board will be fierce, suggesting the result won't be without its challenges.

Could They Have Won Today? Both Say No

Perhaps the most candid moment in both hosts' reflections comes when they're asked whether their peak-era performances would cut it against the current generation of elite athletes. Neither hesitates.

"I don't think so," Griggs says, laughing. "Look at that Australian team now, how different physically they are. It's just extraordinary to watch how clever the sports have got and how much smarter they've got with their training."

Shirvington is equally direct, singling out Australia's current crop of sprinters as the finest the country has ever produced. He believes the national 100-metre record — still held by Patrick Johnson — is under genuine threat from today's athletes.

"No, they're absolutely flying," he says. "This current crop of Australian sprinters is the best we have ever seen, hands down. I think [Patrick Johnson's record] will go. We've just got great athletes."

With the opening ceremony just days away, both Griggs and Shirvington appear ready to celebrate a new generation doing what they once did — only faster, stronger, and smarter.