Under 21: the Aussie sporting prodigies to watch in '26

Gout Gout, who is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, headlines the list of rising stars aged 21 and under to keep an eye on in 2026.

AUSTRALIA'S BEST UNDER-21 ATHLETES

COOPER BAI (RUGBY LEAGUE)

The son of NRL cult hero Marcus, Cooper Bai made an eye-catching debut from the bench in the Gold Coast Titans' final game of 2025. He's blessed with size and athleticism. With a new coach at the club, this could well be a breakout year for the 19-year-old. Bai is out of contract after 2026, though surely won't play much more NRL without a new deal being finalised - either at the Titans or elsewhere.

DASH DANIELS (BASKETBALL)

Dash Daniels is putting together an impressive rookie season as a professional with Melbourne United under the NBL Next Stars program, and shapes as a leading NBA draft prospect in 2026. The 18-year-old is bigger and stronger than his older brother Dyson Daniels was at the same age. He shares many of the same qualities as his sibling, already an NBA star with Atlanta, as an outstanding defender with a good feel for the game.

GOUT GOUT (ATHLETICS)

Teenage sensation Gout Gout continues to raise the stakes. After breaking Peter Norman's 56-year-old 200m national record in late 2024, he made global headlines in 2025 with a world championships debut and 200m semi-final appearance in Japan. The 18-year-old will be out to win gold on Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow.

INDRA BROWN (SKIING)

Indra Brown is on the cusp of becoming one of Australia's youngest ever Olympians. Don't be surprised if the 15-year-old wins a freeski halfpipe medal at the Winter Games in Italy. The Victorian pocketed silver and bronze medals on the World Cup circuit in December, becoming Australia's youngest ever World Cup medallist.

JAMES OVERY (SOCCER)

Nestory Irankunda isn't the only teenager vying for a World Cup berth with the Socceroos. Perth-born James Overy earned his first national team call-up from coach Tony Popovic in 2025 after impressing as the youngest member of the Young Socceroos squad at the U20s World Cup. The 18-year-old signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in July.

KADE DAVEY (MOTORSPORTS)

At 17, Kade Davey became the first Indigenous driver to lead a national motor racing series, doing so in the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series, before ending the year third overall with eight podium finishes. Touted as a future Supercars driver, the Martu Manyjilyjarra man will be trackside at the 2026 edition of 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota.

MAYA JOINT (TENNIS)

Maya Joint is Australia's new women's No.1 after a breakout season. The 19-year-old is the third-youngest player inside the current top 32, and is set to be seeded at the Australian Open for the first time off the back of titles at Eastbourne and Morocco. Great things are expected of the country's first seeded women's player since world No.1 Ash Barty's 2022 triumph.

MILLA COCO BROWN (SURFING)

Milla Coco Brown is only 18, but already being touted as an innovator with her tube riding and aerial talent. The Newport product, who began surfing at two, has been talked about in the same sentences as surfing legend Kelly Slater and World Surf League champion Caity Simmers. Brown was a Stab High finalist in Japan and conquered big waves in the Pacific Ocean to win the first ever Women's Natural Selection Surf in 2025.

MOLLIE O'CALLAGHAN (SWIMMING)

With four-time Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus calling time, the Mollie O'Callaghan era is officially here. In the aftermath of Titmus's retirement, O'Callaghan became the first woman to swim under one minute 50 seconds in the 200m freestyle at a short-course World Cup. The 21-year-old is already a five-time Olympic gold medallist.

OLIVER PEAKE (CRICKET)

Aged 19, Oliver Peake is already a first-class mainstay at Victoria and will captain Australia at the Under-19 World Cup hosted by South Africa and Namibia in January-February. The batter was invited to Sri Lanka to spend time around the Australian Test squad during their 2025 tour, and in his first BBL game of this summer made a half-century for the Melbourne Renegades.

ZIPPY FISH (AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL)

Having already made headlines in her draft year thanks partly to her name, Zippy Fish lived up to the hype in her debut season with Sydney to win the 2025 Rising Star award. The West Australian looked a class above as she caused chaos for the opposition off half-back. A Larrakia, Noongar, Wongi and Wirangu woman, Fish wears Lance Franklin's famous No.23.

Australian Associated Press