00:00It has been a remarkable year in Welsh sport, not just in Welsh football, but sport in general.
00:08Many standout names who have accomplished much for such a small nation that Wales is,
00:12but you know, they pack a big punch, it's fair to say.
00:15And so, as I say there, we're going to be looking at some of the biggest names, standout
00:18names from the 2024 calendar year who've made a real impact in Welsh sport, both domestically
00:25and in a global sense as well.
00:28So, you know, when I think of names, obviously you think of Craig Bellamy, who's taken over
00:32Robert Pages, the Welsh football manager.
00:34You've got some of the Olympians who, of course, who've made an impact at Paris 2024.
00:39So there's lots to go through, and I'm sure you'll have more to tell us about as well.
00:43So Charles, who has stood out in Welsh sport this year, and why have they stood out?
00:48Well, yeah, I think we'll start with the Olympics.
00:51It was an amazing summer, 14 GB, you know, just over the water in Paris, and a record
00:5633 Welsh Olympians represented Team GB at Paris 2024.
01:00Now, that's the largest Welsh contingent at an Olympic Games, which is quite remarkable
01:07for the nation to have that many.
01:10They also then, on top of that, Welsh Olympians received a record 13 medals, three golds,
01:17three silvers, seven bronzes.
01:18Now, just to reel off a few names that stand out, Anna Hersey became Wales's first ever
01:24Olympic table tennis player.
01:28She was fantastic.
01:29She sort of lit up the screen, and going into it as well, she was a name that was floating
01:33around so young and so enthusiastic, and was brilliant for Wales on that Team GB stage.
01:41Jasmine Joyce became the first British rugby player to appear at three different Olympic
01:46Games.
01:47So, you know, that's sort of the other side of it, but the longevity in there, and that
01:50was fantastic to see.
01:53Ruby Evans became the first Welsh gymnast to compete at the Olympics since 1996.
01:58So, I mean, just a few of these names are just showing that Wales have so much talent
02:03across an array of sports, and they're really showing that, and the Olympics was a brilliant
02:09platform for that.
02:11So, yeah, those few names there are fantastic.
02:15And then, of course, you have Anna Nabarka, who became the most decorated Welsh woman
02:19at the Olympics when she won her fourth medal.
02:22So, there's a lot of young talent coming through.
02:25There's a lot of longevity as well, and the Olympics was a brilliant stage for that, as
02:29I say.
02:30And, you know, you mentioned Craig Bellamy there.
02:32I think he deserves huge applaud.
02:34Welsh football was in a place where not many knew the future of it, not many knew where
02:38it would go, and Rob Page had a real indifferent tenure in charge of the nation.
02:45Craig Bellamy comes in.
02:46He's been a player.
02:47He's now a manager, and he's got his high ambitions, high expectations, and he's been
02:51fantastic for them so far and, you know, unbeaten.
02:55It's overall been fantastic by the individuals in Welsh sport this year.
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