Team Wales claimed a historic gold medal in the women's team sprint at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 30, defeating England in a dramatic final at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.
The Welsh trio of Emma Finucane, Lowri Thomas, and Rhian Edmunds set a record time of 46.972 seconds in qualifying.
In the final, they overcame a half-second deficit to win by 0.141 seconds.
Finucane mounted a comeback on the second leg against England's Sophia Capewell, after Rhianna Parris-Smith gave England an early lead.
Edmunds then held off Katy Marchant on the anchor lap.
Finucane's Emotional Victory
"Today's been insane," said Finucane. "To qualify first was pretty nerve-wracking.
We went out there and showed what we could do, but to back it up in that final, knowing we were against the strong English side was great.
We rode our hearts out."
"Riding in the Welsh colours gives you that extra boost and there were so many flags in the crowd.
When we crossed that line first, it was unbelievable," she added.
The victory completed Finucane's collection of major international sprint titles, adding Commonwealth gold to her Olympic, World, and European championship victories.
"We stood on that top step with your team-mates singing the anthem, it's something we've all dreamed of," said Finucane.
"It is the first time I sang the anthem on that top step and the two girls were by my side belting it out."
"Rhian says it takes a village to do what we do. We have so many people behind the scenes you don't see on the track.
We certainly felt that today," she added.
Finucane also praised the supportive atmosphere inside the Glasgow arena during the podium ceremony. "The crowd were insane.
There were Welsh flags everywhere. It gives us an extra boost on that last lap.
We did it for Wales," she said.
More Medals for Wales
Earlier in the program, para-cyclist James Ball and pilot Matt Rotherham secured silver for Wales in the men's B tandem 1,000m time trial, matching their performance from four years ago.
"It is special to equal to what we did in Birmingham four years ago," said Ball. "We have to be proud of what we've done.
We gave it everything on the track and I was on the floor for 20 minutes afterwards."
Ball was beaten to the gold by Scotland's Neil Fachie, who became his nation's most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete with his seventh career medal.
"That's something I've dreamed about," said Fachie. "I knew I was one medal behind the record, so I was aware of it.
A little part of me thought it would be pretty cool if I could leave these Games with that record."
Rotherham, who previously piloted for Fachie, reflected on the tandem silver medal finish.
"I spent three days learning the Welsh national anthem and I'm gutted I didn't get to sing it today," he said.
"Hopefully we will do on Saturday."
Wales added another medal when 36-year-old Ciara Oliva earned bronze alongside Megan Barker, Jessica Roberts, and Anna Morris in the women's team pursuit after coming out of retirement.
"It means everything, the whole comeback was worthwhile and it means so much to me and to my family," said Oliva.
"To be riding alongside these girls is the biggest honour, they're absolutely awesome, it's just amazing."
In the men's team pursuit, England set a Games record to beat Australia for gold, with Charlie Tanfield celebrating the long-standing international rivalry.
"I feel like my whole career has been about the team pursuit and it being us versus the Aussies," said Tanfield.
"It feels great. It’s a good rivalry and it’s really motivating."
Finucane, Ball, and Rotherham are scheduled to compete again in the individual sprint events later this week.
