Team Wales announce selection of 126 athletes across 11 sports who are heading for the XXII Birmingham Commonwealth Games this July

106 athletes confirmed for Birmingham, bringing Team Wales tally up to 126

Selection across 11 sports including Swimming, Athletics, Cycling, Triathlon, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Squash and Lawn Bowls.

There will be a record number of Para athletes and more women than men in the final team selection.

Commonwealth Games Wales have today revealed the latest group of athletes selected to compete at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which includes the biggest para inclusion in Team Wales history with 19 athletes across 6 sports (Athletics, Swimming, Lawn Bowls, Triathlon, Cycling, Table Tennis).

In total 106 athletes have been announced across 11 sports, following nomination by the national governing bodies or via sport qualification, and selection ratification by the Commonwealth Games Wales selection panel.

They join the 23 athletes already confirmed for Team Wales (Table Tennis, Para Table Tennis, Para Swimming, Para Lawn Bowls, Weightlifting and Paratriathlon) who were announced earlier this year.

This brings the Team Wales athlete total up to 126, with final selection announcement for the remaining sports due in the coming weeks (Rugby, Hockey, Netball and Gymnastics).

In total, Team Wales will have 199 athletes competing in Birmingham this summer across 15 sports, with more females than males in the team (100 females, 99 males).

Rhys Jones will make history as the first paratriathlete for Team Wales at a Commonwealth Games.

There are also four sets of siblings in the team; Megan and Elinor Barker (cycling), Joe and Hannah Brier (athletics), Ioan and Garan Croft (boxing) and Tesni and Emyr Evans (Squash). Elinor Barker rejoins the team after having had her baby boy, Nico, in March.

Tour de France, Olympic, World and Commonwealth Champion, Geraint Thomas will also be back in the Welsh jersey for the first time since topping the podium in Glasgow 2014.

The team also features some familiar faces, with Alys Thomas back for more action after winning gold in Gold Coast, Rosie Eccles in boxing hoping to mirror her success in Gold Coast, Paralympic Champion Aled Sion Davies, and Anwen Butten who will be competing in her 6th Commonwealth Games. Medi Harris will make her senior debut after winning silver and bronze at the Commonwealth youth Games in 2017 Bahamas.

Meanwhile, youngsters Anna Hursey (Table Tennis) and Aidan Heslop (Diving) are back with Team Wales after making their debuts in 2018 as an 11 and 15 year old respectively.

Helen Phillips, Chair of the Commonwealth Games Wales Board said: “As Chair of Commonwealth Games Wales, on behalf of the board, I would like to congratulate every single athlete, their coaching staff and support teams from our member National Governing Bodies who have qualified or been selected to represent Team Wales at this summer’s XXII Commonwealth Games.

“The dedication and diligence shown in their preparations, heightens even further the pride we have here in Wales to represent your country, especially following such an unpredictable and uncertain period during the pandemic.

“We are not only proud of the exceptional talent we have selected, but proud of our athlete’s behaviour and professionalism frequently noted amongst our fellow Commonwealth Sport friends. Gold Coast 2018 was certainly a Games to remember, and we are confident Team Wales will positively make their mark in Birmingham.

“Our campaign for 2022 is ‘The summit of our aspirations’. Together we will champion every athlete and their support team to relish the opportunity, reach their personal goals at the same time inspire those that will follow in their footsteps.”

She added: “Thank you to everyone involved in the formation of this team. Thank you to our athletes for all your dedication and to our NGB’s for your utmost support to our team who will represent us in the amazing city of Birmingham. Pob lwc Cymru.”

Chris Jenkins, CEO of Commonwealth Games Wales said: “I would like to add my congratulations to all those selected to represent Wales in Birmingham ‘22 and thank all the coaches, support staff, and friends and family, who stand behind the athletes. An opportunity to represent your country goes deeper than putting on a Welsh top and competing in sport. For Wales, it’s about unity, coming together as a small nation and being proud of who we are. The success we’ve had in the Commonwealth Games speaks for itself, and the athletes who have made their mark are now sporting idols for many, from Colin Jackson, Geraint Thomas, Kirsty Wade to Lauren Price. The selection panel certainly had a tough job this year, and seeing the line-up, really transforms all the hard work over the last four years into reality. It’s great to see a mixture of familiar and successful faces with new Team Wales members, all eager to make their mark on the Commonwealth stage. 50 days to go; we can’t wait.”

Fiona Reid, CEO of Disability Sport Wales said: “The strength and depth of Team Wales for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is incredible, and it is fantastic to have the para and non-para athletes in one inclusive team.  Having hugely experienced athletes, like Aled Davies, within the team will give confidence and inspiration to the many athletes who are making their debuts at this Games.  It has been a challenging time of preparation, but having crowds back in the stadia and feeling the honour of wearing a Welsh shirt to compete for Wales can not be underestimated.  We wish each athlete every success as their final preparations get underway.”

TEAM WALES ATHLETE SELECTION, BIRMINGHAM 2022

Athletics/Athletau: (22)

  • Jeremiah Azu – 100m
  • Olivia Breen – 100m, T38
  • Joe Brier – 400m
  • Hannah Brier – 200m
  • Natasha Cockram – Marathon
  • Piers Copeland – 1500m
  • Melissa Courtney- Bryant – 1500m
  • Clara Evans – Marathon
  • Lauren Evans – Heptathlon
  • Aled Sion Davies – Discus, F42-44/F61-64
  • Bethan Davies – 10000m walk
  • Dewi Griffiths – Marathon
  • Jake Heyward – 1500m
  • Jon Hopkins – 3000m SC
  • Osian Jones – Hammer
  • Rhys Jones – 100m, T38
  • Heather Lewis – 10000m walk
  • Jenny Nesbitt – 5000m
  • Adele Nicoll – Shot
  • Julie Rogers – Discus, F42-44/F61-64
  • Amber Simpson – Hammer
  • Harrison Walsh – Discus, F42-44/F61-64

Boxing/Bocsio: (9)

  • Zoe Andrews – 57kg
  • Taylor Bevan – 80kg
  • Ioan Croft – 67kg
  • Garan Croft – 71kg
  • Jake Dodd – 51kg
  • Rosie Eccles – 70kg
  • Owain Harris – 54kg
  • Helen Jones – 50kg
  • Haaris Khan – 75kg

Cycling/Beicio: (24)

  • Elynor Backstedt – Road Race, Time Trial
  • James Ball – Men’s Tandem B
  • Elinor Barker – Road Race
  • Megan Barker – Road Race, Team Pursuit
  • Ella Barnwell – Scratch, Team Pursuit
  • Rhys Britton – Team Pursuit, Points, Scratch
  • Ellie Coster – Team Sprint, 500TT
  • Leah Dixon – Road Race, Time Trial
  • Owain Doull – Road Race, Time Trial
  • Rhian Edmunds – Team Sprint, Sprint, Keirin
  • Emma Finucane – Team Sprint, Sprint, 500TT, Keirin
  • Joe Holt – Team Pursuit, Points, Scratch
  • Nia Holt – Women’s Tandem B
  • Eluned King – Road Race, Team Pursuit
  • Harvey McNaughton – Team Pursuit, Kilo
  • Anna Morris – Road Race, Time Trial, Individual Pursuit, Points, Scratch
  • Alex Pope – Men’s Tandem B
  • William Roberts – Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit, Points
  • Jessica Roberts – Road Race, Team Pursuit
  • Luke Rowe – Road Race
  • Joshua Tarling – Team Pursuit, Points, Individual Pursuit
  • Geraint Thomas – Road Race, Time Trial
  • Lowri Thomas – Team Sprint, Sprint, 500TT, Keirin
  • Stephen Williams – Road Race

*Alex Pope (Pilot – Steff Lloyd), James Ball (Pilot – Matt Rotherham), Nia Holt (Pilot – Amy Cole)

Diving/Deifio: (3)

  • Lucy Hawkins – Women’s 10m Platform individual
  • Aidan Heslop – Men’s 10m Platform individual, Mixed synchronised 10m platform
  • Ruby Thorne – Mixed synchronised 10m platform

Lawn Bowls/Bowlio: (14)

  • Jarrad Breen – Fours, Pairs
  • Paul Brown – Pairs,
  • Anwen Button – Fours, Triples
  • Owain Dando – Fours, Triples
  • Laura Daniels – Triples, Singles
  • Gordon Llewellyn – Pairs
  • Sara Nicholls – Fours, Pairs
  • Ross Owen – Fours, Triples
  • Daniel Salmon – Pairs, Singles
  • Chris Sprigs – Pairs,
  • Caroline Taylor – Fours, Pairs
  • Julie Thomas – Pairs
  • Jon Tomlinson – Fours, Triples
  • Ysie White – Fours, Triples

VI Mixed Pairs Directors;

Mark Adams (Julie Thomas), John Wilson (Gordon Llewellyn)

Squash/Sboncen: (5)

  • Peter Creed – singles/doubles
  • Emyr Evans – singles/doubles
  • Tesni Evans – singles/doubles
  • Joel Makin – singles/doubles
  • Emily Whitlock – singles/doubles

Judo/Jiwdo (6)

  • Ashleigh-Anne Barnkel – U48kg
  • Natalie Powell – U78kg
  • Gregg Varey – U66kg
  • Daniel Rabbitt – U60kg
  • Jasmine Hacker-Jones – U63kg
  • Callum Bennett – U60kg

Swimming/Nofio: (20)

  • Kieran Bird – Men’s Freestyle
  • Kyle Booth – Men’s Breaststroke
  • Dylan Broom – Men’s 200m Freestyle S14
  • Thomas Carswell – Men’s Freestyle
  • Charlotte Evans – Women’s Backstroke
  • Lewis Fraser – Men’s Butterfly
  • Medi Harris – Women’s Backstroke
  • Calum Jarvis – Men’s Freestyle
  • Daniel Jervis – Men’s Freestyle
  • Daniel Jones – Men’s Freestyle
  • Harriet Jones – Women’s Butterfly
  • Rebecca Lewis – Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10
  • Bradley Newman – Men’s Breaststroke
  • Lily Rice – Women’s 100m Backstroke S8
  • Matthew Richards – Men’s Freestyle
  • Joseph Small – Men’s Backstroke
  • Rebecca Sutton – Women’s Freestyle
  • Alys Thomas – Women’s  Butterfly
  • Liam White – Men’s Backstroke
  • Meghan Willis – Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM10

Table Tennis/Tenis Bwrdd: (7)

  • Charlotte Carey
  • Callum Evans
  • Anna Hursey 
  • Joshua Stacey
  • Chloe Thomas Wu Zhang
  • Lara Whitton
  • Grace Williams

Judo/Jiwdo (6)

  • Ashleigh-Anne Barnkel – U48kg
  • Natalie Powell – U78kg
  • Gregg Varey – U66kg
  • Daniel Rabbitt – U60kg
  • Jasmine Hacker-Jones – U63kg
  • Callum Bennett – U60kg

Triathlon/Triathlon: (6)

  • Dominic Coy – Mixed Relay and Individual
  • Rhys Jones – Paratriathlon (Pilot – Rhys James)
  • Iestyn Harret – Mixed Relay and Individual
  • Olivia Mathias – Mixed Relay and Individual
  • Isabel Morris – Individual Female
  • Non Stanford – Mixed Relay and Individual
  • Rhys Jones (Guide – Rhys James)

Weightlifting/Codi Pywsau: (7)

  • Hannah Powell – 49kg
  • Catrin Jones – 55kg
  • Christie Williams – 64kg
  • Faye Pittman – 71kg
  • Amy Salt – 76kg
  • Michael Farmer – 73kg
  • Jordan Sakkas – 109kg

Wrestling/Reslo: (2)

  • Shannon Alex Harry – u57kg
  • Curtis Dodge – u74kg

Names to be announced:

  • Gymnastics
  • Men’s Rugby 7s
  • Women’s Hockey
  • Men’s Hockey
  • Netball

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