Emma Finucane had already collected three quarters of what she labelled her ‘Oscars’ haul. In Glasgow, she added the final golden statuette – and delivered a performance worthy of the occasion.
The 23-year-old struck Commonwealth Games gold to add to previous victories at the Olympics, World and European Championships, and she did so with the sort of dramatic flourish usually reserved for the closing scene of a blockbuster.
Wales took team sprint victory in Glasgow (PA)
The star of British track cycling was wearing Welsh red rather than Britain’s red, white and blue, teaming up with Rhian Edmunds and Lowri Thomas in an unfamiliar sprint line-up that had barely been tested since the last Games in Birmingham.
Usually, Finucane’s most familiar partnerships are with Katy Marchant and Sophie Capewell, her British teammates on the biggest stages.
Here, though, they stood on the opposite side of the track, wearing England colours and trying to deny her the one title still missing from her collection.
It was an all-British sprint showdown and Wales had already announced themselves in the morning qualifying session, setting a Commonwealth Games record of 46.972 seconds.
But England looked to have seized control when the medals were on the line.
It was a British clean sweep of the medals in the team sprint (Getty)
Rhianna Parris-Smith powered away from Thomas in the opening lap, opening a gap of more than half a second – an advantage that would normally be decisive – before then Finucane took over.
Facing Capewell directly, she launched herself around the 250 metres of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome with devastating speed. A deficit became a lead, and a race slipping away became one bent entirely to her will.
Edmunds maintained the slender advantage against Marchant, who is back at a major event for the first time in 18 months following a major crash and the birth of her second child, to win by 0.141s.
“Honestly, today has been insane,” Finucane said.
“To qualify first was nerve-wracking, but we knew what we could do. Then to back it up in that final against the English, who are very strong, was incredible.
“We went out there and rode our hearts out. Wearing the Welsh colours gives you a little bit of a boost, and I think when we crossed the line first, it was unbelievable. I’m very proud of the team.”
Wales took gold in the velodrome (PA)
Finucane will return for the individual sprint later this week, where she will bid to do it all over again.
It was the third gold medal of these Games for Wales, following Ruby Evans in the gymnastics and Aled Davies in the men’s para discus.
“The crowd were insane,” she added.
“There were Welsh flags everywhere. It does add to it and it adds to the environment. It gives us an extra boost on that last lap.
“We did it for Wales. It was the first time I’ve sung the anthem on the top step, and we were belting it out.
“We saw all our teammates in front of us, our coach and the physios were all there singing it with us. It takes a village to do what we do, and behind the scenes there are a load of people behind us. I felt that on the top step.”
England might have lost the sprint battle with Wales but they won the team pursuit war with Australia.
England finally bested Australia in the men’s event (PA)
Henry Hobbs, Charlie Tanfield, Will Tidball and Ethan Vernon set a new Games record as they exacted revenge for Team GB’s Olympic defeat two years ago.
Tanfield and Vernon have lost Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth gold medal races to the team from Down Under in recent times and revelled in the glory.
“I feel like my whole career has been about the team pursuit and it being us versus the Aussies,” Tanfield said.
“It feels great. It’s a good rivalry and it’s really motivating.”
Meanwhile, Neil Fachie came back from retirement to become Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete by gold medals won.
The Aberdeen ace initially retired from cycling following the 2024 Paralympics and even works in a full-time 9-to-5 job – but came back for one last hurrah.
Neil Fachie and pilot Aaron Pope claimed another gold (Getty)
His victory in the men’s tandem 1000m time trial moves him one gold medal clear of bowler Alex Marshall, who could draw level again later this week.
“That’s something I’ve dreamed about,” he said with his arms locked with pilot Aaron Pope.
“I knew I was one medal behind the record, so I was aware of it. A little part of me thought it would be pretty cool if I could leave these Games with that record. It feels like a nice legacy, not just for me but for para-cycling.
“I’m sure someone will beat it one day – maybe even this week – but for now I’m number one. There are some absolute legends behind me, including Chris Hoy, who has a velodrome stand named after him. That’s pretty special.”
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