Penarth Cyclist Ciara Oliva Selected for Team Wales Ahead of Commonwealth Games Return

Penarth cyclist Ciara Oliva is set to make a remarkable return to international competition after being named in Team Wales’ track cycling squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

Oliva, 36, last competed at the Gold Coast Games in 2018 and previously raced at Glasgow 2014. She also served as a reserve for Great Britain at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and has collected World and European Championship medals during her career.

After stepping away from elite racing following the 2018 Games — where she competed alongside her husband, Lewis — Oliva says she felt content with what she had achieved. But inspiration struck unexpectedly when she watched a documentary about Olympic rower Helen Glover’s return to sport as a mother of three.

“I knew something had been sparked that I couldn’t ignore,” she said. “Lew told me he’d support me 100% if I went for it — so we decided to give it one last go.”

Oliva will be the oldest rider in Wales’ 19‑strong track and para‑track squad, which features a mix of established champions and rising talent. Across four days of racing at the Chris Hoy Velodrome, 26 medals will be up for grabs.

Nine of the selected riders are current World Champions, while six medalled at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Beicio Cymru Director of Sport Darren Tudor said the squad reflects Wales’ growing strength on the world stage: “Wales may be a small nation, but year after year our riders perform at the highest level. This squad includes incredibly talented established athletes and exciting rising stars — including five teenagers.”

He added that the majority of riders have progressed through Beicio Cymru’s talent pathway, supported by grassroots clubs and National Lottery funding.

Among the headline names is Emma Finucane, who won gold and two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics and will target the Sprint, Keirin and Team Sprint in Glasgow. She will again join Rhian Edmunds and Lowri Thomas in the Team Sprint after the trio claimed bronze at Birmingham 2022.

In para‑track events, Birmingham 2022 gold medallists James Ball and Matthew Rotherham will defend their Tandem B Sprint title. Ball, who won Paralympic gold in Paris, said “To come from such a small nation and show the world what you can achieve is so special to me.”

The women’s Team Pursuit also promises to be a major storyline, with Olympic bronze medallists Jess Roberts and Anna Morris joining Megan Barker, who helped Great Britain secure back‑to‑back world titles in 2023 and 2024.

Morris, who will also race in the Individual Pursuit and bunch events, said wearing the Welsh jersey brings added motivation“The dragon on your back just gives you extra firepower.”

Rising star Carys Lloyd, 19, will feature in the endurance events after securing European and junior world titles and recently claiming her first professional road victory.

Team Wales will send 114 athletes across 10 sports to the Games.