Olivia leaps on gold as medal haul mounts for Wales in Oz
WORLD para-champion Olivia Breen is the pride of Wales after landing Commonwealth gold in the women’s T38 long jump yesterday.
Breen set a Commonwealth record of 4.56m in the third round but went further with a personal best of 4.86m with her final jump – bringing Wales’ medal haul to 10.
She said: “I just went for it after three no-jumps and I hit it. After the Paralympics in Rio, the Commonwealth Games was my aim and I have done it and I am so happy. It’s a dream come true.”
Also picking up medals yesterday was Bethan Davies, who secured a bronze in the 20km race walk; Laura Daniels, who secured a silver in the women’s bowls singles after losing to Jo Edwards in the final; and Laura Hughes, who picked up Wales’ 10th medal after taking bronze in the women’s 75kg weightlifting.
Meanwhile, a former coach of Commonwealth gold medal-winning cyclist Elinor Barker has praised his former pupil for her “dedication” as an athlete.
The Welsh cyclist won the gold in an incredible 25km final, which saw Barker compete against her Great Britain teammate and race favourite, Scot Katie Archibald. As she received her gold medal on the podium at the Gold Coast games in Australia, Barker broke down in tears in a proud and emotional moment as the Welsh national anthem was played.
Writing on Twitter, Barker said: “About to sing the Welsh national anthem on the podium for the first time in my career! What primary school assembly dreams are made of.”
It was also a proud and emotional moment for Barker’s former coach Alan Davies, who coached the Cardiff cyclist when she was a member of the Maindy Flyers Youth Cycling Club.
Alan, who has also coached Welsh cycling stars including Geraint Thomas and Owain Doull, said it was amazing to see Olympic gold medallist Barker take the gold home for Wales.
He said: “We’re enormously proud at what she’s achieved and it’s brilliant as a club to see Elinor go on to win Olympic and Commonwealth golds. It couldn’t have gone to a nicer person, she’s a lovely person and an incredibly dedicated athlete.
“She’s worked hard for what she does and what she has achieved and she’s a fantastic role model for the kids at the club. She still visits the club when she is back in Cardiff and she has donated equipment, along with Owain Doull, which has resulted in us buying 13 new bikes.”
Speaking about her pride in representing Wales, Alan added: “I remember when Geraint Thomas rode in the Commonwealth team against the advice of his coaches – that chance to represent their country means the world to them, it’s the only time cyclists can ride for Wales rather than Great Britain, and I saw from Elinor how much it meant to her.”