Calls for honour for golden boy
THERE are calls to name a suite in the Rhondda Sports Centre after a local Olympic hero.
Plaid Cymru has made a formal request to Rhondda Cynon Taf council to dedicate a suite at the sports centre in honour of Olympic gold med allist Calum Jarvis.
Calum, who is from Ystrad where the sports centre is located, won a gold medal in Tokyo in the 4x200m freestyle relay competition.
He and team-mate Matt Richards are the first Welsh Olympic gold medal-winning swimmers for 109 years.
Plaid Cymru group leader on RCT council, Councillor Pauline Jarman, said: “Calum has achieved what many athletes dream of. It is only right that his momentous achievement is celebrated locally. A permanent reminder in his home town would be a fitting tribute.”
He was also part of the squad that won gold at the 2015 and 2017 World Championships, as well as the 2018 European Championships.
A council spokesman said: “The communities of Rhondda Cynon Taf are extremely proud of the achievements of our local Olympic and Paralympic athletes, both past and present, and as a council we are actively considering how best to celebrate and recognise them all.
“On behalf of all residents, we send our most sincere congratulations to Calum on his historic gold medal win, and we look forward to welcoming the Olympic champion back home soon.”
Councillor Jill Bonetto, mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “Congratulations to Calum from all of us back home in Rhondda Cynon Taf. You have done us all so proud and I look forward to passing on our good wishes to you personally upon your return.”