SWANSEA’S Commonwealth Games heroes are to be honoured in a civic reception next week.
The city’s athletes helped form the backbone of the Welsh team that collected 28 medals, including eight golds, six silver and 14 bronze, at the Games in Birmingham last month.
More than 50 representatives from Swansea donned the red of Wales in Birmingham, to compete in many sports including Hockey, Wrestling, Athletics, Swimming, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Table Tennis, Lawn Bowls, Triathlon, Track Cycling and Gymnastics.
There were bronze medals for Anna Hursey in Table Tennis, Eluned King and Will Roberts in Track Cycling, Medi Harris in Swimming and Harrison Walsh in Athletics.
On top of that, Swansea also saw some stunning silver medal success for 2013 World Triathlon Champion and Swansea legend Non Stanford, in the Triathlon Mixed Team Relay, as well Swansea-based Gordon Llewellyn, Julie Thomas in the Para-Bowls, alongside their directors John Wilson and Mark Adams.
Lord Mayor Cllr Mike Day, who will be hosting Monday’s reception at the Mansion House, said: “If Swansea was a country it would have finished in 28th place in the final medal table, ahead of Ghana, Fiji and Mozambique.
Cllr Day said: “Everyone in Swansea is proud of the terrific achievements of all the Swansea competitors. They are a real inspiration to us all and a civic reception will be a great opportunity for the city to honour them. They all are a true inspiration for the next generation of athletes.”
Silver medallist Non Stanford, who was also recently crowned European Triathlon Champion in Munich, explains how important it was for her to have been involved in sport in her home city of Swansea.
“Standing on a Commonwealth podium and watching the Welsh flag flying was a lifelong dream realised. It was special to do that as part of a team too. A shared moment I’ll never forget.
“I’ve always been very proud to be Welsh and just as proud to have grown up in Swansea. I’m a product of the wonderful clubs that we have here in the city.”
