Team Wales hopefuls in search of Commonwealth gold
Artistic gymnast Ruby Evans (left), swimmer Matt Richards (centre) and para athlete Funmi Oduwaiye (right) are hoping for success with Team Wales in Glasgow
Athletes from 74 countries and territories worldwide are preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to take place in Glasgow.
The 23rd edition of the Games will be more streamlined than previous ones, featuring 10 sports compared to 20 at the Birmingham Games four years ago.
The sports programme includes athletics and Para-athletics, swimming and Para-swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and Para-track cycling, netball, weightlifting and Para-powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and Para-bowls, 3x3 basketball, and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.
With over 100 athletes expected to be named to Team Wales next week, Wales spoke with several athletes aspiring to represent Wales this summer.
'This one's really important'
Matt Richards won two golds and a silver medal at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships in April
Matt Richards, a double Olympic champion swimmer, has an impressive medal record. In addition to his gold medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, he has secured multiple titles at World and European Championships.
Despite finishing fourth in four events at the previous Commonwealth Games, Richards is determined to win gold this time.
"Not just a medal, I want the gold," he said.
"Commonwealths in 2022 didn't go the way I'd hoped. I wasn't performing as well as I'd have liked to that year. It's that one that's really gotten away and it happens to be one that's the only opportunity I get to do, racing for Wales.
So it's one that's close to my heart and one that I'm going to be going at pretty hard this year.
I'm in great shape. We had the British Championships which went really well. I had two golds and a silver there and so gearing up well for a busy summer.
I think the main thing for me is put on that Welsh dragon, get out there and bring back some gold."
'Competing for home will be a special feeling'
Ruby Evans won gold in the all-around title at the 2026 Artistic Gymnastics British Championships
Ruby Evans, a teenager, has had a remarkable year. In October 2025, she earned a silver medal in the floor exercise at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Indonesia.
In March 2026, she became the first Welsh athlete in over 50 years to win the all-around title at the British Championships held in Liverpool.
This will be Evans' first Commonwealth Games, as she was not old enough to compete in Birmingham in 2022.
"I was three months off my birthday last time, but I'm excited because I've always wanted to do the Commonwealth Games," said the 19-year-old.
"I've always wanted to do something for Wales because everything's always Great Britain, which is obviously amazing, but I think just competing for my home country will be such a special feeling.
Things are going well, I did the British Championships and won that, so that gave me confidence.
I would say [there is] a bit of pressure, but I wouldn't say it's too much because I don't like to put pressure on myself. I just like to go with the flow and then whatever happens, happens."
'I'm looking forward to the vibes'
Funmi Oduwaiye won a bronze medal in the F44 shot put in the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi
Funmi Oduwaiye began para-athletics in 2022 and made her debut in the F64 discus and F64 shot put at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.
In October 2025, the former Wales Under-18s basketball player won bronze in the F44 shot put at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.
The 23-year-old plans to compete in both her preferred throwing events at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland this summer and is eager to make her debut.
"I'm looking forward to competing and representing my smaller nation of Wales rather than the whole of Great Britain," Oduwaiye said.
"The fact that I know my team-mates more closely, train alongside some of them, I'm family friends with some of them.
I'm looking forward to the vibes, I'm looking forward to the energy and what the rest of the Commonwealth can bring."
'Gold is the minimum I'll be taking this time'
Owain Harris-Allan won a bronze medal on his Commonwealth debut in 2022
Owain Harris-Allan was 18 years old during the Birmingham Games four years ago and exceeded expectations by winning a bantamweight bronze medal.
"It was all a bit of a flash," he said.
"I came through the back door, it didn't really hit me until a couple of months after, but it was a great feeling."
After narrowly missing qualification for Team GB at the Paris Olympics two years ago, the now 22-year-old boxer is confident about his prospects in Glasgow.
"Gold is the minimum I'll be taking this time," Harris-Allan said.
"It's a lot of pressure, but pressure makes diamonds, so I like the pressure.
In the last four years I've had a lot of experience. I'm grateful to be in this position right now.
I'm looking forward to doing it again and being on top of the podium."
'Mum, book the tickets!'
Libi Phillips plays for Cardiff Met Archers in the British Wheelchair Basketball Women's Premier League.
After initially missing out on qualification, 3x3 wheelchair basketball player Libi Phillips and her teammates awaited confirmation of a wildcard spot for Wales.
Once Wales secured their place in Glasgow, Phillips and her family quickly made plans to attend.
"As soon as we found out, straight on the phone - 'Mum, book the tickets!' - so they're coming, mum and dad," Phillips said.
"I'm just feeling happy to just be excited now.
In Birmingham in 2022 and in Glasgow this year they're doing a 3x3 format.
It's basically half a court as opposed to the full court so it cuts out the transition. It's a much quicker game and there's always something going on."
'To be given the opportunity is a privilege'
Ross Owen (centre) won a bowling bronze medal in the men's triples at the 2022 Commonwealth Games alongside Owain Dando (left) and Jonathan Tomlinson (right)
Ross Owen is a seasoned competitor aiming to participate in his third Commonwealth Games in lawn bowls this summer.
Having competed at the Gold Coast in 2018 and won bronze in the men's triples in Birmingham in 2022, Owen maintains a strong sense of pride representing Wales.
"It means everything," he said.
"Growing up as a child, watching heroes of mine play in various sports whether it be football, rugby or even bowls.
Just watching them and being inspired to be one of them, and now to be given the opportunity to do it is a privilege.
It's always good to play at a home games so I'm really excited for the challenge."
