News

01/08/2026 00:00, In Blog / Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games - Latest News /

Team Wales captain Olivia Breen once again led by example winning the athletics squad’s second gold medal of the games on a night when Issy Boffey also finished fifth in the women’s 800m final.

Having already won silver in the T38 100m final, Breen delivered once again as she won her second Commonwealth Games long jump title having also triumphed on Australia’s gold coast in 2018.

Having made her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow back in 2012 when she finished just outside the medals in the long jump, Breen was in no mood miss out this time, chewing furiously on her gum as she stepped onto the runway.

The first in the competition to jump, the Welsh athlete spectacularly laid down a daunting challenge to the rest of the field - sailing out to what would have been a new Commonwealth Games record of 5.09m but for a beefy plus 3.9ms tailwind.

The 2018 Commonwealth champion however made up for missing out on the games record in the first round by claiming it in the second.

Although her distance of 5.03m was shorter than her original mark, it counted as a record due to the 0.9ms wind reading.

Later in the second round, Australia’s Layla Sharp provided the most serious challenge to Breen’s lead in the competition to date as she registered a new personal best and area record of 5.02m.

Neither could improve on their distances in the third, fourth or fifth rounds, setting up something of a shoot out in the final stanza with Sharp due to take the penultimate and Breen the final jump of the competition.

With Welsh fans in the stadium and across the country holding their breath, Sharp took her last jump, which looked a worryingly long one.

The distance seemed to take an eternity to be announced, but the celebrations started in the stands as the figure 5.06 flashed up on the scoreboard.

The only downside for Breen was that her Commonwealth record would be short lived as Sharp had exceeded her mark.

No matter. Whatever happened next, Breen would not be denied a second Commonwealth Games long jump gold medal.

The City of Portsmouth athlete’s final effort was a no jump. But, as a famous commentator once said:

“Quite frankly, who cares!”

Wales had won its second gold of the track and field timetable and Breen had her second medal of the Games having won 100m silver. The latest medal takes her personal Commonwealth Games haul to three golds, a silver and bronze.

As soon as Breen completed her final jump, a Welsh flag was thrown from the stands for her to start her celebrations.

Wearing her trademark beaming smile on her face and the flag over her shoulders, she slowly moved along the length of the back straight stand enjoying the congratulations of family, friends and fans.

Eventually, Breen made it back to the mixed zone to carry out a series of interviews, no less excited than she was immediately after her last jump.

Asked how she felt about her second long jump gold medal, Breen said:

“I’m ecstatic. I can’t explain it. I’m just so, so happy!

“It means so much to get a gold medal for Wales, but also to compete for Wales is just so, so special.

“I’ve actually learned the national anthem this time. So I’m very excited to sing tomorrow. But, I don’t know, I’ll be crying too. So I’m going to have to keep myself together.

“I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone and I just can’t express how much it means to compete for Wales.

“My mum’s from Cardiff, my grandparents. I just love it so much.”

While her team captain was on her way to gold on the other side of the stadium, Boffey, made a measured and determined entrance onto the track for her 800m final, walking purposefully to her mark while the others sprinted to the start line.

Due to starting on the extreme outside lane, Boffey did well to be right up with the head of the pack by the time they cut to the inside lane.

At the bell, the European Under-23 Champion was vying for fourth place in the tightly packed field.

By the final bend, Boffey was challenging for third and well in contention for a podium place.

With the pace ratcheting up, the 26-year-old was just run out of the medal positions as the field came hurtling down the final straight.

Boffey crossed the line in a highly creditable fifth place considering the quality of the field, clocking a time of 2:01.44.

Gold went to World Championship silver medallist Georgia Hunter-Bell, of England, in 1:59.51 with World 800m champion Lilian Odiri second 2:00.58 and Sarah Billings, of Australia, third in 2:00.61.

Speaking in the mixed zone after the race, a smiling Boffey said:

“It was a tough one to take coming through that line, but I gave it my all.

“I raced well up until that last 50m, so I’m happy. It was very competitive at the end.”

Asked whether she had a message for the Welsh fans who have supported her through the Commonwealth campaign, Boffey said:

“Yes, just a massive thank you to everyone. I hear you all in the crowd. I see everything online.

“The support has been unbelievably incredible and I’m so grateful to be part of this team.”

RESULTS