BBC Wales at the Olympics

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The 2024 summer proved to be an eventful one for the O'Dowda household.

Republic of Ireland winger Callum O'Dowda continued his recovery from a groin injury in a bid to ensure he was able to be a prominent figure for Cardiff City this season.

But the 29-year-old and his family also had their eyes glued to the television as the versatile full-back's 24-year-old sister Jade O'Dowda competed for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Olympics.

Jade O'Dowda - a bronze medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games - earned a total of 6,280 points to finish 10th in the women's heptathlon in Paris.

And her older brother could not hide his joy with his sister's performance in France following what has been a gruelling year for the athlete.

"Over the last six months, it's been the journey of her trying to get to the Olympics and then getting there and then competing," said Cardiff man O'Dowda.

"What people didn't see is all of the stuff she had to go through prior to it. 

"She was managing stuff and it was all of the stress and pressure to deliver, and she did. I'm so proud of her.

"She's been on some journey, from me dragging her over to the park to play football and running, then to her doing it on the Olympic stage. 

"I wish I could have gone, but with the timings of the football I couldn't make it. But I'm mega proud of her.

"My parents went over to watch her and we had all of the family round my house, all of us were shouting at the TV.

"She did really well to get 10th, for her age as well. She can have a bit of time to relax and have a holiday now."

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What a debut Olympic Games for Emma Finucane.

She has won bronze in the women’s sprint, beating Netherlands’ Hetty van der Wouw in straight rides.

Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand claimed the gold.

Finucane now heads back to hometown Carmarthen with a gold medal from the team sprint, a bronze from the keirin and a bronze from the individual sprint.

It’s a little piece of history for the 21-year-old - she becomes the first female British athlete to win three medals at a single Games since Mary Rand in 1964.

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It’s bronze at best for Emma Finucane in the women's sprint.

She lost her semi-final to New Zealand's Ellesse Andrews.

Finucane will face either Germany’s Lea Friedrich or Dutch rider Hetty van der Wouw for bronze from 11:45 BST.

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The combination of being called up to race an Olympic marathon and preparing for her upcoming wedding has resulted in a whirlwind week for Clara Evans.

The Welsh runner flew out to Paris on Tuesday after Charlotte Purdue pulled out – but she took her opportunity and finished with a season’s best time.

She was Team GB's best finisher in 46th place in the women's race, with a time of 2 hours 33 minutes 1 second.

“I just really wanted to run strong which I did. The wheels came off after about 35km, but that’s to be expected when you haven’t done a full marathon build-up," Evans said.

“I may not be as fast as some of the other girls but I’m definitely strong and I know I’m strong on the tougher courses and I’m very determined and I don’t like people telling me no and if somebody does then I want to prove them wrong.

“It feels like I’ve done that over the last couple of years and I just want to keep going.”

Evans said she could see plenty of Welsh flags around the course which encouraged her to keep going.

“It was really nice because I saw my family with about 2km to go and they never really come to see me run because they’re always looking after my dog, but they couldn’t miss this opportunity.

“My fiance was on the hill trying to keep me going. I could spot them all because I told them to have Welsh flags and I kept an eye out for them.

“I’m getting married on Saturday so it’s a bit of a whirlwind.”

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It's hard to believe we've reached the end of what's been an outstanding Olympics in Paris.

The Games may have got off to a soggy start down the Seine, but the sun has certainly shone on the athletes since.

Wales have already secured a record 12 Olympic medals, surpassing the 10 won in Rio in 2016.

But there could be more.

Track star Emma Finucane will be looking to add to her haul when she goes in the latter stages of the women's sprint.

She is guaranteed at least a bronze if she wins her semi-final at 10:22 BST.

The final takes place at 11:45 BST.

Before that Clara Evans was in marathon action, having been a late Team GB call up to replace Charlotte Purdue.

Evans finished 46th with a season's best run of 2:33:01, just over 10 seconds behind winner Sifan Hassan of Netherlands who claimed an Olympic record.