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Wednesday, 5 June, 2002, 17:13 GMT 18:13 UK
The pool's top six
BBC Sport Online selects a synchronised swimmer, a diver and four swimmers to watch out for at the Games.
Petria Thomas (Australia - swimming): Thomas is a current double world champion, having taken the butterfly discipline by storm.
But the 27-year-old has already warned that the Commonwealth Games could be her last championships as a swimmer.
Known as the "bionic butterflyer", she has overcome major injuries to compete at every level.
Could be in the hunt for a potential four golds this summer.
Alison Sheppard (Scotland - swimming): Bronze in the 100m individual medley and silver in the 50m freestyle final at this year's World Championships show the sort of form Sheppard is currently in.
She recorded a total of seven personal bests during the week and has promised she can go better still in Manchester.
The 29-year-old now lives and trains in Canada, with her husband and coach Gary Vandermaulan, who swam for the Canadian national team at the 1988 Olympic Games.
The couple met at the Commonwealth Games in 1994.
Claire Carver-Dias (Canada - synchronised swimming): Carver-Dias is tipped to continue her country's impressive synchro record - the team have taken all eight Commonwealth Games gold medals to date.
She has already won bronze medals at both the Olympics and World Championship level.
First took up the sport after becoming bored of competitive swimming.
And looks a safe bet to double up with gold in the solo and duet events.
Irina Lashko (Australia - diving): Lashko has been on the diving circuit for years and used to compete under the Russian flag.
Now one of Australia's foreign legion in their diving team, she continues to be a leading competitor on the world circuit.
The 2001 season was her first as a naturalised Australian and her best finish was second in the 3m springboard final at the World Championships.
Her major competition looks likely to come only from her fellow countrywomen and the Canadians.
Sarah Price (England - swimming): The 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season and is among the top ranked Commonwealth swimmers at backstroke.
British, European, Commonwealth and even world records have been broken by her this season.
She looks to be in peak condition for the Games.
Her best performance on a big stage so far was gold in the 200m backstroke, her number one event, last year in the European Championships.
Sarah Poewe (South Africa - swimming): Poewe's best events are the 100 and 200m breastroke.
It was at both distances that she won gold in the World Short Course Championships in Athens two years ago.
The then 17-year-old disappointed in the Olympic Games in Sydney.
But she looks to be back to her competitive best and should be a major threat in the pool in Manchester.
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05 Jun 02 | Swimming
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