Shayna Jack says she struggled to look at herself in the mirror ahead of Glasgow 2026 farewell — Shayna Jack has opened up to Ariarne Titmus about the mental toll of her swimming suspension as she prepares for her final Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow.
Jack spoke with her former Australian teammate during Seven’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games coverage, reflecting on the long road back to the pool and her decision to retire from swimming after the Games.
For Australian viewers, the interview adds a personal note to Seven’s swimming coverage. Jack enters Glasgow as an Olympic, world and Commonwealth champion, while Titmus now brings a rare teammate’s perspective to Seven’s broadcast team.
Jack reflects on retirement call
Titmus asked Jack when she knew it was time to retire. Jack said there had been several moments after the Paris 2024 Olympics, followed by time away from the sport in 2025.
Jack said she wanted to go out on her own terms. She also wanted to support Jamie in his own push to make the team and share that experience with him.
I also needed to do what’s right for myself and have a life, have a life outside of the sport.
Shayna Jack
The hardest part of the comeback
Asked what she was most proud of, Jack said her greatest achievement was getting back into the pool after the hardest period of her career.
I don’t think a lot of people actually knew how hard that was for me.
Shayna Jack
Jack said the experience challenged her relationship with swimming and her sense of identity.
At times in those moments, I struggled to look at myself in the mirror because I wasn’t the person that I know I am.
Shayna Jack
She told Titmus that being Shayna Jack the swimmer was important, but it was not her whole identity.
A final Games with a teammate watching on
Titmus also asked Jack what her 10-year-old self would think of a career that now includes Olympic, world and Commonwealth titles, plus world records.
Jack said her younger self would not have believed it. However, she said that childhood dream became the start of everything that followed.
Titmus told Jack she could not wait to cheer her on in Glasgow and be the first person to speak to her after her final race.
There’s going to be lots of tears, but I cannot wait to share it with you.
Shayna Jack
How to watch
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games continues from 7.00pm nightly on Seven and 7plus Sport.
For more coverage, visit TV Central’s Commonwealth Games section and Swimming section. View the public daily schedule through the official 7NEWS Commonwealth Games schedule.
