13 medals for Team Wales at Bahamas Commonwealth Youth Games

Team Wales will today be returning from the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas with a total of 13 medals comprising of two gold, six silver and five bronze – the 10th largest medal haul of all the competing countries.

38 young Welsh athletes competed in six sports over six days, delivering outstanding performances and medal wins and smashing Welsh and British junior records. 

The Welsh women’s rugby sevens squad won the first medal ever for Team Wales in a team event at a Commonwealth Games or Youth Games. They lost their first game against Canada, but went on to an impressive 58-0 win against Bermuda and 53-0 against Trinidad & Tobago. The fourth match against Australia was lost 0-26, but Wales won their final match against Fiji 26-7 to secure the bronze medal.

On the athletics field, shot putter Sarah Omoregie won silver and set a new British U18 record of 16.74m, whilst James Tomlison also won silver in the discus throw event.

A total of four medals were secured in the pool, with Lewis Fraser winning the first gold medal of the Games for Wales in the 100m butterfly and bronze in the 50m butterfly. Medi Harris also won two medals in swimming, coming third in the 200m backstroke to secure bronze and winning silver medal in the 50m backstroke where she broke the junior Welsh record held by Georgia Davies since 2006 both in the heat and again in the final.

Four medals were also won in boxing, putting Wales in joint second place with Australia on the medal table. On the final day of the Games, Sammy Lee (81kg) won the second gold for Team Wales, whilst fellow boxers James Probert (46-49kg) and Jacob Lovell (64kg) won silver, and Rhys Edwards (60kg) securing bronze after narrowly losing in the semi final.

In tennis, James Story won the silver medal in the singles and the bronze medal in the mixed doubles alongside Morgan Cross. James’ brother Matt also competed and medalled in the men’s doubles in the Samoa Youth Games in 2015.

Ffion Robinson (U48KG), Sam Ashton (U73KG) and Callum Bennett (U60KG) made their debut at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the judo competition. No medals were won, but Callum narrowly missed out on the bronze after extra time, and all three young athletes gave excellent performances showing much promise for future success.

Chef de Mission Gerwyn Owen, who led Team Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Games said: “We are all extremely proud of our young athletes and what they have achieved at the Games. Not only have they delivered excellent performances in their sports, they have shown themselves to be amazing ambassadors for our nation.

“The Team Wales values – pride, passion, togetherness and belief – have been exceptionally demonstrated by the athletes over the last week. They have shown unity and support for their fellow competitors and have engaged with athletes from other Commonwealth nations with warmth and respect.

“The experience of representing Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Games is invaluable for these athletes on their road to future careers in sport. We have seen massive talent and potential across all the sports, and the outlook for Team Wales at future youth and senior Commonwealth Games is extremely promising.

“Congratulations to the athletes, their coaches and governing bodies, as well as friends and family who have all contributed to Team Wales’ success.”