London 2012: Welsh athletes qualified for the 2012 Olympics
- Published
Cyclist Geraint Thomas celebrates 2012 gold
A record number of Welsh athletes are competing at the 30th Olympic Games in London.
Currently 30 Welsh participants have been named in Team GB for the 2012 Games, beating the 27 sent to the 1908 London Games.
Wales' four world champions: 400m hurdler Dai Greene, cyclist Geraint Thomas, triathlete Helen Jenkins and rower Tom James spearheaded Great Britain's attempt to win 48 medals, the most since 1908, at their home Games.
Greene and Jenkins fell short in their bids, but Thomas and James helped defend their four-man teams' titles in the men's team pursuit and men's coxless four respectively.
There was disappointment for Thomas' fellow cyclist Nicole Cooke in the women's road race, but Chris Bartley won rowing silver in the lightweight men's four.
Wales' most successful Olympics was the 1920 Games in Antwerp when the nation won four golds as Christopher Jones and the legendary Paulo Radmilovic, external won in the Water Polo while John Ainsworth-Davies and Cecil Griffiths struck gold in the 4x400m relay.
The host nation gains automatic qualification places in a number of events and was expected to compete in all 26 sport disciplines for the 16-day showpiece from 27 July 2012.
Keep up to date with the Welsh athletes that have qualified for the 2012 London Olympics with the BBC Sport Wales at-a-glance guide.
Selected for Team GB:
ATHLETICS
From: Llanelli. Club: Swansea Harriers. Discipline: 400m hurdles.
The 2011 World and 2010 Commonwealth champion is the second fastest 400m hurdler in the world this year. Team GB's athletics captain ran a 47.84 seconds personal best at Paris in July and that was just short of Kriss Akabusi's British record of 47.82sec - but Kevin Young's Olympic record set in Barcelona 1992 stands at 46.78s. The 26-year-old's PB in Paris and his third fastest run at Crystal Palace shows Greene is returning to form after knee surgery in December.
Result: Fourth in 400m hurdles; fourth in 4x400m relay.
From: Newport. Club: Cardiff: Discipline: 200m
The 33-year-old decided against retirement when his lottery funding was cut in 2009 and fought back to win European silver and Commonwealth bronze in 2010. This was his best season since 1998 when Malcolm won World Junior Athlete of the Year after winning sprint double gold at the World Junior Championships. But his personal best of 20.08 seconds was 11 years ago and goes into his fourth Olympics more than half a second slower than 2012's quickest times as Malcolm looks to better two fifth placed Olympic final finishes.
Result: Second in heat. Failed to reach final after finishing 3rd in semi-final heat. Part of 4x100m team disqualified in heats.
From: Cardiff. Club: Birchfield Harriers. Discipline: Discus
The British under-23 and Welsh record holder was sixth at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The 23-year-old won a discretionary place in Team GB as he only hit the Olympic 'A' qualifying standard in 2011 and his 64.35 metre best this year is not even among the top 50 throws in the world - six metres shorter than number one thrower Robert Harting.
Result: 16th in Group A, 35th overall, external
From: Caernarfon. Club: Cardiff: Discipline: 800m
The 30-year-old is included in Team GB's 75-strong athletics squad after successfully appealing against his initial omission as late-developer Warburton prepares for his first Olympics. The British number three finished fourth at the 2010 Commonwealths and won bronze at the 2011 European Team Championships but Warburton's 2012 - and personal - best is not among the 25 quickest times this year and is more than three seconds slower than quickest David Lekuta Rudisha of Kenya.
Result: Fifth in heat three and 22nd overall, external
From: Bridgend. Club: Cardiff: Discipline: 400m hurdles
The son of Wales rugby great JJ Williams, Rhys was the hope of Welsh 400 metre hurdle running before Dai Greene's emergence. The former European youth champion won bronze in the 2006 European before breaking the Welsh record while finishing fourth at the 2006 Commonwealths. He ran a personal best of 48.96 seconds winning European silver in 2010 and confirmed his first Olympic selection by winning the 2012 Europeans. His 2012 best of 49.33secs is not in the top 25, almost two seconds slower than quickest Javier Culson.
Result: Fourth in semi-final, failed to qualify for final, 15th overall., external
BOXING
From: Barry. Club: Splott ABC Discipline: Flyweight 52kg
The 23-year-old sealed his place at London 2012 after defeating England's Khalid Yafai in a box-off and Selby is a realistic medal hope as he currently stands as number one flyweight amateur in the world. Selby was Wales' first European amateur champion in 86 years back in 2011 when he beat former three-time champion Georgy Balakshin in Turkey before winning silver medal at the World Amateur Boxing Championships, missing out on gold against Russian Misha Aloyan by only a point.
Result: Lost in quarter-finals.
From: Cardiff. Club: St Joseph's. Discipline: Welterweight 69kg
The 21-year-old, along with Welsh team-mate Andrew Selby, became Wales' first European champion in 86 years when he beat Russian number one Andrey Zamkovoy to win 2011 welterweight gold in Turkey. Evans, ranked second in the 69kg amateur rankings, was the first Welsh boxer to qualify for the 2012 Olympic when he reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships.
Result: Silver medal.
CYCLING
From: Cardiff. Club: Team Sky. Discipline: Team Pursuit
The defending Olympic and three-times world champion has helped lower the team pursuit world record numerous times since his heroics at the 2008 Beijing Games. The 26-year-old has also established his reputation on the road and wore the young riders' white jersey between stages three and seven of the 2010 Tour de France following several top 10 stage finishes. Thomas wore the white jersey between stages one and seven on the 2011 Tour after more top 10 efforts before taking the combativity award for his ride over the mountains on stage 12. The 2012 Olympics is set to be his track swansong as Thomas will return to the road for good after the London Games.
Result: Gold medal.
From: Vale of Glamorgan. Club: Team Faren. Discipline: Women's Road Race
The 29-year-old is one of the world's most formidable riders and won the first Welsh Olympic gold for 36 years when she stormed to the Olympic title in Beijing. In fact, Cooke was the first of Team GB's 19 gold medals in 2008 as she became the only cyclist ever to win the Olympic and world title double. The 10-times British Road Race champion has won the World Cup twice but her form leading up to London 2012 was not as good as Cooke would have liked so she provided support to assist Lizzie Armitstead win silver.
Result: 31st in road race.
GYMNASTICS
From: Torfaen. Discipline: Rhythmic
The 21-year-old's funding was stopped by UK Sport in 2009 so her training stint at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall ended. British gymnastics temporarily assisted but Sport Wales, the Welsh sports council, provided long-term financial assistance for the Northamptonshire-based gymnast. It paid off as the British number one won silver in the hoop and bronze in the rope at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Jones, who finished outside the top 50 in all events at the 2011 World Championship, was the last Welsh athlete to secure Olympic selection after winning her sixth British Rhythmic title.
Result: Failed to reach the final.
HOCKEY
From: Merthyr. Club: Reading Hockey Club. Position: Midfield or forward
The 31-year-old Wales captain has been a member of Great Britain's hockey team since making her debut in 2003 and the experienced midfield and forward player is set to play a key role for Team GB at her second Olympics.
Result: Won bronze as GB beat New Zealand 3-1 in medal play-off, with Thomas scoring third goal.
FOOTBALL
From: Carmarthen. Club: Swansea City. Position: Midfield
The 22-year-old was an important part of Swansea City's Premier League campaign as the Welsh international midfielder helped the club retain its top-flight status in style. Allen has already played more than 125 games for Swansea and has committed himself to the Welsh club until 2015. He is one of five Welsh members of Stuart Pearce's 18-man Team GB football squad that dismissed the Football Association of Wales's fears that a British team would threatened their independence.
Result: Lost on penalties to South Korea in quarter-final. Played in 1-1 draw with Senegal, 3-1 win over UAE and 1-0 win over Uruguay.
From: Cardiff. Club: Liverpool. Position: Striker
The former Wales captain is one of Stuart Pearce's three overage players and Team GB manager wanted Bellamy's desire and high standards for his young squad. The 32-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in 69 Wales internationals, has amassed £45m in transfer fees over a illustrious career in moves to Coventry City, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Manchester City and Liverpool. Bellamy struggles to play games in quick succession as he manages his long-standing knee trouble but the experienced Liverpool striker is still regarded as one of the best players in the Premier League.
Result: Lost on penalties to South Korea in quarter-final. Played in 1-1 draw with Senegal, 3-1 win over UAE and 1-0 win over Uruguay.
From: Cardiff. Club: Manchester United. Position: Winger
Team GB's skipper and most experienced player is English football's most decorated club player having won 30 major honours including two Champions Leagues, 12 Premier League titles and four FA Cup titles in an illustrious career with Manchester United. The 38-year-old is the only player to have played and scored in every Premier League season and was elected into the PFA Team of the Century. The former Wales international has scored 12 goals in 64 internationals but the 2012 Olympics is his first major tournament at international level.
Result: Lost on penalties to South Korea in quarter-final. Played in 1-1 draw with Senegal and 3-1 win over UAE.
From: Caerphilly. Club: Arsenal. Position: Midfielder
The current Wales captain has scored five times in 21 internationals already despite being aged just 21. Ramsey is a talented midfield playmaker that has fought back from a serious double-leg break in February 2010 to play a major role in Arsenal's Champions League push last season. Stuart Pearce even considered the young Ramsey as a possible captain of the GB team before picking veteran Giggs. Ramsey will be up against Tom Cleverly, Jack Cork and Ramsey's countryman Allen for a place in the Team GB midfield.
Result: Lost on penalties to South Korea in quarter-final. Played in 1-1 draw with Senegal, 3-1 win over UAE and 1-0 win over Uruguay.
From: St Asaph. Club: Swansea City. Position: Left-back
The 23-year-old progressed from non-league to Premier League footballer inside 12 months following his move to Swansea City from fellow Welsh side Wrexham. Taylor, who began his career at Manchester City, was a regular as Swansea impressed on their debut season in the Premier League and has already he won nine Wales caps on the left-hand side alongside Gareth Bale. The Swansea defender will be up against Chelsea's Champions League winner Ryan Bertrand for Team GB's left-back berth.
Result: Lost on penalties to South Korea in quarter-final. Played in 1-1 draw with Senegal, 3-1 win over UAE and 1-0 win over Uruguay.
ROWING
From: Wrexham. Club: Leander Club. Discipline: Lightweight Men's Four
The 28-year-old arrived on the international scene by winning lightweight four sculls bronze in the 2007 World Championship before achieving greater success in the lightweight four. He won World Championship gold in his new boat in 2010 but had to settle for a bronze a year later in Slovenia. Bartley prepared for the Olympics having won bronze in the Lucerne World Cup, silver in the Belgrade World Cup and gold in the Munich World Cup in 2012 as the GB boat prepares for a battle with Australia and China for London 2012 gold.
Result: Silver medal.
From: Wrexham. Club: Molesey Boat Club. Discipline: Men's Four
The Cambridge engineering graduate won his first career gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and, following two years out because of a sabbatical and back injury, he Welsh athletes at the 2012 Olympicsachieved World Championship gold in the men's four in 2011. The 28-year-old, who made his Olympic debut in the eight at the 2004 Athens Games, joins Alex Gregory and fellow Beijing winners Pete Reed and Andrew Triggs Hodge in the coveted four-man boat. James and his team-mates prepared for the 2012 Games with gold at the Lucerne and Belgrade World Cups before silver in the Munich World Cup, losing out to main rival Australia.
Result: Gold medal
From: St Asaph. Club: Leander Club. Discipline: Women's Eight
The 6ft 3in former model and semi-professional show-jumper began rowing in 2007 following an appeal which looked for tall 16-to-25-year-olds to take part in rowing, handball and volleyball at London 2012 - sports where height is advantageous. Thornley became the first 'Sporting Giant' to earn a medal, winning gold on her GB debut in the women's eight at the 2009 World U23 Championships. The 24-year-old helped the women's eight to fourth place in the 2010 World Championship before their bronze in 2011. The boat prepared for London 2012 with another bronze at June's Munich World Cup.
Result: Fifth in final.
SAILING
From: Cardiff. Club: Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Discipline: 470
The two-class junior European champion, who had won every major domestic title at 14, was chosen by Saskia Clark to be her new partner after double Olympic champion Sarah Ayton retired in 2011. The 24-year-old helm, who was born on 29 February, joined crew Clark to win silver at the World Cup event in April 2011 in only their second regatta together. The pair, who are currently fifth in the world, also won silver at the 2011 Sail for Gold World Cup Regatta before winning Olympic Test Event silver at their home and London 2012 venue in Weymouth and Portland.
Result: Silver medal.
SHOOTING
From: Newport. Discipline: Skeet
Allen won Belgrade World Cup gold and Belgrade European Championships silver in 2005, the year she set a a world record before it was overtaken in March 2012. The Russian-born 40-year-old, whose mum was also an Olympic shooter, won World Cups in Italy and Dorset in 2010 before her 2012 Commonwealth Championships title. But Allen was 14th at the 2008 Olympics and the current world number 18 hopes for a medal at London 2012 where American Kimberly Rhode and China's Ning Wei are favourites.
Result: 14th in heat.
SWIMMING
From: Barry. Club: Cardiff. Discipline: 1,500m
The double-Olympic medallist is set for his swimming swansong at his home Olympics in the event which catapulted him to international recognition. Davies smashed the British record by swimming the then fourth fastest 1500m freestyle time in history by winning Olympic bronze at the 2004 Games. The 27-year-old then won Commonwealth gold in 2006 before switching to the new 10k open water marathon. Davies secured an open water silver at the 2008 Olympics but failed to qualify for London 2012 in the 10k. He made the GB team, however, in the 1,500m squad. Davies, who is ranked 10th in the world, hopes to become the first Welshman since Paulo Radmilovic, external at the 1920 Antwerp Games to win Olympic medals in three separate Games.
From: Swansea. Club: Swansea ITC. Discipline: 100m backstroke
The 21-year-old won Commonwealth Games bronze in 2010 but in the shorter 50m backstroke and Davies has not won a major medal in the 100m backstroke since her bronze at the 2006 European Junior Championships. The London-born swimmer's 100m backstroke personal best was back in 2009 and the world number 17 is British number three behind Elizabeth Simmonds and 2009 world champion and world record-holder Gemma Spofforth.
Result: 15th in semi-finals.
From: Penarth. Club: Cardiff. Discipline: 200m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle
The double 2011 European Junior champion made his senior international debut at the 2010 Commonwealth Games when, aged just 17, he came within 0.23 seconds of a spot in the final. The 19-year-old won a trio of medals at the 2012 British Championships in the 200m individual medley bronze, 200m freestyle silver and 400m freestyle bronze. The promising world number 28 goes into his first Olympic Games a month after lowering his 200m freestyle personal best to one minute 47:55 seconds as he won gold at the National Championships.
Result: 6th in 200m freestyle heat, fifth in 4x200m freestyle relay.
From: Swansea. Club: Swansea ITC. Discipline: 200m butterfly
The British record holder wants to improve on her ninth place finish at Beijing in her second Olympic Games. Lowe has overcome her biggest swimming disappointment of missing the 2002 National Championships as a 12-year-old because of a broken toe, sustained by catching it in the hole at the bottom of a plant pot. The 22-year-old is now world number five after winning silver at the 2010 World Short Course Championships and silver at the 2011 European Short Course Championships but was seventh at the 2011 World Championships.
Result: 6th in 200m butterfly final.
From: Newport. Club: Guildford City. Discipline: 200m backstroke
The London-born, Australia-raised, University of Florida student qualifies for Wales through his father Paul and will make his Olympic debut following his World Championship bow at Rome in 2009. Loughran reached Commonwealth finals in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke in 2010, finishing fifth, fourth and sixth respectively but the world number 31 will only compete in the longer discipline at London 2012. The 23-year-old, however, was part of Team GB as an interested observer at the Beijing Olympics to gain experience as part of the British Olympic Association Ambition Programme.
TAEKWONDO
From: Flint. Club: Manchester Aces. Discipline: Under 57kg
After making history by becoming Britain's first Youth Olympic Champion at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, Jones shocked the taekwondo world by taking a silver medal at the senior World Championships in 2011. The 19-year-old also struck 2011 US Open and 2011 British International gold and the world number 11 hopes to surprise the world again at London 2012 where world champion Yuzhuo Hou of China and world number one Tseng Li Cheng are among the favourites.
Result: Gold medal.
TRIATHLON
From: Bridgend.
The 28-year-old was victorious on the London triathlon course last year as she won her second World Championship title in 2011. Jenkins disappointed at the 2008 Olympics because she finished 21st in Beijing but she made up for that poor performance as she won the first of her world titles in 2008. Jenkins, who married coach Marc Jenkins at Disney World in 2002, also won the 2011 Pan American Cup and the world number three is among the favourites for gold at London 2012.
Result: Fifth.
WEIGHTLIFTING
From: Holyhead. Club: Holyhead Weightlifting Club. Discipline: 69kg
The former painter and decorator started lifting after winning the Britain's Strongest Schoolboy title and represented Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. And the 26-year-old, who has been guided by Welsh national coach Ray Williams, prepares for his Olympic debut in London ranked 61 in the world.
Result: Finished eighth in Group B.
Achievements: Broke the Welsh clean and jerk mark by lifting 158kg and equalled the Welsh snatch record of 130kg.
From: Swansea. Club: LWC. Discipline: 69kg
The bin lorry driver was inspired to be a weightlifter by her late father Terry who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games as well as three Commonwealth Games. Purdue's brother, also called Terry, went to three Commonwealth Games and the Welsh lifter has already competed at two Commonwealths. Now the British champion and world number 22 is preparing for her Olympic debut at the age of 37.
Result: Finished 12th.
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