England's Adam Peaty returns to action in the Commonwealth Games swimming competition in Birmingham ©Getty Images

England’s multiple world record breaker Adam Peaty will compete in his first international race since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, eight years after he marked his arrival on the international stage at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The 27-year-old has amassed Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles as well as world records in the 50 metres and 100m breaststroke since Glasgow 2014, although he has yet to win Commonwealth gold over the shorter distance.

He took time away from the pool to appear in the TV show Strictly Come Dancing after leaving Tokyo last summer with two golds and one silver medal, but was forced to miss this year's World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, after fracturing his foot.

Peaty, whose coach Mel Marshall, the England head coach, was one of three to recite the Commonwealth Oath at the Opening Ceremony, is joined by fellow Olympic champions Tom Dean, James Guy, Anna Hopkin and Freya Anderson along with Tokyo 200m backstroke bronze medallist Luke Greenbank, while world champion Ben Proud seeks his third straight Commonwealth 50 metres freestyle title.

Kaylee McKeown is one of four Olympic champions from Australia who is due to compete in the Birmingham 2022 swimming competition ©Getty Images
Kaylee McKeown is one of four Olympic champions from Australia who is due to compete in the Birmingham 2022 swimming competition ©Getty Images

Peaty has inspired other swimmers, among them Olympic and world 200m breaststroke champion Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia, himself a world record holder.

"He has changed the game in the 100 breaststroke and it's really cool to see," Stubblety-Cook said.

"Seeing how he has pushed it is really inspiring for my 200."

The 23-year-old is one of four individual Tokyo champions representing Australia in Birmingham, along with Kaylee McKeown, Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon.

Canada finished fourth in the medal table at June's World Championships in Budapest with 11 podium finishes, 15-year-old Summer McIntosh winning two golds among her four medals.

Olympic 100m butterfly champion Maggie MacNeil competes in her first Commonwealth Games, as does Joshua Liendo, who claimed 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly individual bronzes in Budapest.

Eleven-time Paralympic champion Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand is set to compete at her third Commonwealth Games having become the youngest New Zealander to receive a damehood this year.

Her sole focus is on the women's 100m freestyle S9 on the first day of competition.

Scotland’s Duncan Scott, the most decorated British athlete at a single Olympics with four medals in Tokyo, is entered in nine events, having missed the recent World Championships due to COVID-19.

With 17 medals across three Games to date, Chad Le Clos of South Africa will join shooters Michael Gault of England and Phil Adams of Australia as the most decorated athletes in Commonwealth history if he can claim a podium finish in any of his six events.