Heroes’ welcome as triumphant Team Wales home from Games
Wales’ top athletes have received a heroes’ welcome home after returning from their record-breaking performance at the Commonwealth Games.
Crowds of schoolchildren formed a guard of honour at the Welsh Assembly last night to congratulate Team Wales on reaching their highest-ever ranking at the Gold Coast games.
With a total of 37 medals, including 10 gold, Wales landed seventh position overall – smashing their previous highest haul achieved at Glasgow in 2014 – and doubling their number of winning performances.
Speaking at the celebration, First Minister Carwyn Jones thanked the athletes for their hard work, commitment and for “inspiring” Wales.
He said: “We’ve seen clips of the medals and we all know how many hours, days, weeks and months of training go into that.
“The medals, the success, is built of foundations that the team have laid and the support you have shown each other and the support, believe me, we had at home.
“Thank you for all you have done for Wales, not just as a country, but what you have done for so many people out there who look to you as an example.
“We are so proud of what you have achieved.”
During the event athletes including Gareth Evans, Wales’ first gold medal-winner of the Games, and Lauren Price, the first woman to win a boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games, received a commemorative coin from the Royal Mint.
Lauren, 23, from Ystrad Mynach, said: “I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s just a dream come true.”
The boxer, who overcame Australian competitor Caitlin Parker in the 75kg division final, will now return to training ahead of upcoming European and World championships.
She said: “My family were watching from home and the support was unbelievable. After the final I had 345 notifications on my phone.
“I knew it was going to be tough, I was boxing in her back yard but I had sparred with her the week before so I knew what she was about.”
Welcoming the athletes, Helen Phillips, chairwoman of Commonwealth Games Wales, said: “You have all absolutely inspired our country by showing respect for the honour of wearing that red shirt and giving future generations the opportunity to be present in future Games.
“Thank you so much for making Wales the talk of the Gold Coast, we were certainly that.”
Speaking at the event, husbandand-wife shooting duo Michael and Sarah Wixey described their newfound fame after returning home.
Sarah, who took home bronze in the women’s trap event, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It was a fantastic experience and for us both to come away with medals is awesome.
“We went for a meal last night and people were recognising us.”
The mother of two form Abergavenny added: “It’s a juggling act with two children and Mike has a busy job with Tata Steel so there’s a pretty full calender.
“We have to make sure the training we do is really smart and it’s got to be efficient.”
During the games Wales athletes aged from 11 to 72 took part in more than 200 events.
Team Wales chef de mission Nicole Phillips said: “I’m so proud of the team, not just because of their performance, but the way they supported each other and the way they expressed themselves as a country as well.
“We were expecting great things but we were asking athletes to get as many personal bests as we could. The fact we came where we did was fantastic.
“I think it’s driven by years of preparation.”