Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
CGF code	WAL
CGA	Commonwealth Games Wales
in Glasgow, Scotland
Flag bearer	Opening:Francesca Jones Closing: Geraint Thomas
Medals Ranked 13th	Gold Silver Bronze Total 5 11 20 36
Commonwealth Games appearances (overview)
Template:Infobox country at games/Commonwealth

Wales sent a team to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The Welsh team aimed to win more than 27 medals, which would be better than their 20 medals from 2010. Even though some top athletes had to pull out, Wales reached their goal by July 30th, just six days into the competition!

Wales ended up with an amazing 36 medals. This made it the most successful Commonwealth Games ever for Wales! They won five gold medals. These were won by Francesca Jones (gymnastics), Geraint Thomas (cycling), Natalie Powell (judo), Jazz Carlin (swimming), and Georgia Davies (swimming).

Francesca Jones was the star of the Welsh team. She won six medals in total: one gold and five silver. Other athletes who won multiple medals included gymnasts Laura Halford and Georgina Hockenhull, swimmer Jazz Carlin, and cyclist Geraint Thomas. Gymnastics was the most successful sport for Wales, bringing in ten medals. Welsh athletes won medals in ten out of the 18 sports they competed in. Four of Wales's medals were won in para-sport events, which are for athletes with disabilities.

At the closing ceremony, Francesca Jones received the David Dixon Award. This award is for the best athlete at the Games. It recognized her amazing performance, her role model qualities, and her fair play.

Team Wales: How They Prepared

The group in charge of picking the Welsh team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games was the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales (CGCW). This group is also known as Cyngor Gemau Gymanwlad Cymru in Welsh.

The CGCW is run by a board with members from all the sports that take part in the Commonwealth Games. Helen Phillips, who is also the Chair of Wales Gymnastics, led the board for Team Wales. Chris Jenkins was the CEO, working full-time for the board.

Brian Davies was the team leader, called the Chef de Mission. He had worked with the team before but this was his first time in charge. Aled Davies, a world record holder in para-athletics, was chosen as the team captain. This was announced at a special send-off event in Cardiff in June 2014.

Getting Ready for the Games

Wales had high hopes for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games Council for Wales set a goal of 27 medals. This was more than the 20 medals they won at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

However, the team faced some challenges before the Games began.

• In June, world champion triathlete Non Stanford had to withdraw. She was recovering from an ankle injury.
• Two weeks later, double cycling world champion Becky James also had to pull out due to an injury.
• A week before the Games, triathlete Helen Jenkins, another medal hopeful, also withdrew because of an injury.
• Other athletes who couldn't compete due to injuries included weightlifter Faye Pittman and judoka Kyle Davies.

Some athletes also faced other issues.

• On July 16th, it was announced that runner Gareth Warburton could not be chosen for the team.
• On the first day of the Games, hurdler Rhys Williams, who was a team vice-captain, also withdrew.

There was also disappointment for the boxing team.

• Olympic silver medalist Fred Evans was not allowed to compete.
• Another boxer, Ashley Brace, was not allowed to take part.

Because so many strong athletes had to withdraw, the team leader, Brian Davies, admitted that their goal of 27 medals might be hard to reach. But as you read earlier, they still managed to beat it!

Medal Winners

Medal Name Sport Event Date Gold Francesca Jones Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual ribbon 26 July Gold Natalie Powell Judo Women's 78 kg 26 July Gold Jazz Carlin Swimming Women's 800 metre freestyle 28 July Gold Georgia Davies Swimming Women's 50 metre backstroke 29 July Gold Geraint Thomas Cycling Men's road race 3 August Silver Francesca Jones Laura Halford Nikara Jenkins Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic team all-around 24 July Silver Francesca Jones Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual all-around 25 July Silver Elena Allen Shooting Women's skeet 25 July Silver Francesca Jones Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual hoop 26 July Silver Francesca Jones Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual ball 26 July Silver Francesca Jones Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual clubs 26 July Silver Georgia Davies Swimming Women's 100 metre backstroke 26 July Silver Elinor Barker Cycling Women's points race 27 July Silver Aled Davies Athletics Men's discus throw F42/44 28 July Silver Jazz Carlin Swimming Women's 400 metre freestyle 29 July Silver Sally Peake Athletics Women's pole vault 2 August Bronze Laura Halford Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual all-around 25 July Bronze Calum Jarvis Swimming Men's 200 metre freestyle 25 July Bronze Matt Ellis Ieuan Williams (pilot) Cycling Men's tandem 1km time trial B 25 July Bronze Laura Halford Rhythmic gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual ball 26 July Bronze Elinor Barker Cycling Women's scratch race 26 July Bronze Michaela Breeze Weightlifting Women's 58 kg 26 July Bronze Jack Thomas Swimming Men's 200 metre freestyle S14 26 July Bronze Mark Shaw Judo Men's +100 kg 26 July Bronze Paul Taylor Jonathan Tomlinson Marc Wyatt Lawn bowls Men's triples 28 July Bronze Rhys Jones Athletics Men's 100 m T37 28 July Bronze Craig Pilling Wrestling Men's freestyle 57 kg 29 July Bronze Elizabeth Beddoe Georgina Hockenhull Jessica Hogg Angel Romaeo Raer Theaker Artistic gymnastics Women's artistic team all-around 29 July Bronze Daniel Jervis Swimming Men's 1500 metre freestyle 29 July Bronze Geraint Thomas Cycling Men's road time trial 31 July Bronze Sean McGoldrick Boxing Men's Bantamweight 1 August Bronze Nathan Thorley Boxing Men's Light heavyweight 1 August Bronze Georgina Hockenhull Artistic gymnastics Women's balance beam 1 August Bronze Lauren Price Boxing Women's middleweight 1 August Bronze Ashley Williams Boxing Men's Light flyweight 1 August Bronze Joseph Cordina Boxing Men's Lightweight 1 August

Medals by sport Sport Total Athletics 0 2 1 3 Badminton 0 0 0 0 Boxing 0 0 5 5 Cycling 1 1 3 5 Gymnastics 1 5 4 10 Hockey 0 0 0 0 Judo 1 0 1 2 Lawn bowls 0 0 1 1 Netball 0 0 0 0 Rugby sevens 0 0 0 0 Shooting 0 1 0 1 Squash 0 0 0 0 Swimming 2 2 3 7 Table tennis 0 0 0 0 Triathlon 0 0 0 0 Weightlifting 0 0 1 1 Wrestling 0 0 1 1 Total 5 11 20 36

Images for kids

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  Gold medal

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  Silver medal

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  Bronze medal