Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Matt Richards has won Olympic golds at the past two Olympics in Tokyo and Paris
ByAndrew RichardsBBC Sport Wales- Published25 minutes ago
Double Olympic champion Matt Richards is hoping to claim Commonwealth gold and complete his major medal collection.
The 23-year-old swimmer won Olympic golds in 2021 and 2024 and has multiple world and European titles to his name.
But four fourth-place finishes in Birmingham in 2022 has left a hole in an otherwise glittering trophy cabinet.
"It would mean the world," said Richards, of winning gold in Glasgow 2026.
"Every time I've ever stood at the top of the podium I've heard the British national anthem, which is fantastic and amazing and every time it's special.
"But I've never been able to stand at the top of the podium and hear the Welsh anthem and that's something important to me.
"It is something I'm absolutely determined to make sure that when we get up there we fill that stadium with our anthem and do it as many times as possible."
Richards leads a team of 21 swimmers and Para-swimmers who will compete from Friday, 24 July until Wednesday, 29 July at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
The team also includes Olympic gold medallist Kieran Bird and Medi Harris, who won one of only two bronze medals for Wales in the pool at the Commonwealths in 2022.
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The goal is to win medals and make Wales proud
Image source, BBC SportImage caption, Ela Letton-Jones won silver at the World Para-Swimming Championships in Singapore in 2025
One of Wales' first medal chances in the pool could fall to Ela Letton-Jones, who will compete in the S13 100m freestyle on Friday.
The 19-year-old, from Y Felinheli in Gwynedd, won silver at the World Para-Swimming Championships in Singapore last year.
"The fact I performed well last year gives me confidence, hopefully I can perform better even better in Glasgow," said Jones.
"I like that I can push myself and I know that I can always perform better.
"The goal is to win more medals and hopefully make Wales proud."
A name you will likely hear a lot of if you're following Wales at this year's Games is Theodora Taylor.
The 17-year-old swimmer from Torfaen Dolphins will compete in multiple events in Glasgow, including relays.
Already competing against seniors, she won silver at the GB Swimming Championships in April in the 50m freestyle which led to her selection to represent Great Britain at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris next month.
Taylor is joined in the European squad by Richards and 20-year-old Tyler Melbourne-Smith, who is making his Commonwealth debut.
Melbourne-Smith has already won two golds and a bronze at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
"It just shows as an athlete I'm taking the leap from junior to senior level," said Melbourne-Smith.
"Now I'm racing some of the best swimmers in the world and at Commonwealth Games, it will be the same.
"I'm looking forward to go out, compete, just give it everything I've got."
