Jess Gallagher reflects on local roots ahead of Commonwealth Games return

JESS Gallagher always loved sport.

The Geelong-born para-athlete cherishes the memories of watching the Commonwealth Games as a child, and is now preparing for her third Games berth.

But long before she pulled on the green and gold, Gallagher was making her mark in local sport.

Raised in Highton, Gallagher was an avid netballer and basketballer, representing at state and national junior levels.

She began her netball career in Drysdale before joining Leopold Football Netball Club in her late high-school years.

After moving to Melbourne for university, she became one of the first A-grade netballers in Geelong to receive a player payment – something she described as “being a big deal” at the time.

Gallagher said her experiences in local sport were critical in her development as an elite athlete.

 

“There’s a lot of really well-known Geelong coaches and people who instilled in me those traits as a young athlete that still carry me through today,” she said.

Now she is returning to the Commonwealth Games as a vision-impaired athlete in the women’s tandem B track cycling alongside pilot Jacqui Mengler-Mohr.

It will be the pair’s first Games together, with Gallagher confident they can be a strong combination.

Medal or not, Gallagher said the experience of sharing competition with a teammate carries the most meaning.

“It’s one thing to be able to have the experiences as an individual athlete, but they really are a lot more meaningful when you share them with people that you have that great connection with,” she said.

 

Nearly two decades into her elite sporting career, Gallagher remains one of Australia’s leading para-athletes.

She will head to a training camp in Wales this month before the Games, and while optimistic about the campaign ahead, she acknowledges her sporting career will not continue forever.

“At this stage in my career, there is excitement at knowing that there probably aren’t that many more of these left for me,” Gallagher said.

“I also am a lot more relaxed.

“That experience really allows you to go in understanding that there are lots of circumstances outside of your control that might impact your performance and as long as I deliver my best on the day, I’ll be happy with whatever result that might be.”

Although retirement is not yet on the agenda, Gallagher has always made time for herself away from being an athlete.

She has built a career as an osteopath and keynote speaker, roles she says help balance her identity outside competition.

“There’s hopefully a lot of life left to live [after sport],” she said.

“There are things that equally bring me as much passion and being a keynote speaker is one of those. Being an osteo and helping people is another.

“I’m a more well-rounded person because I’ve got different things that I can go to.”

Gallagher will be joined in Glasgow by fellow Geelong and Surf Coast athletes Mia Gross (athletics), Breanna Kean (weightlifting) and Erin Rowell (paracycling).

The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August.