Wales sets “unashamedly ambitious” target of 27 medals at Glasgow 2014
Leanda Cave says she's been omitted from Welsh triathlon team, due to be announced within next week or so
Sport Wales has set itself the “unashamedly ambitious” target of 27 medals at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, including six in swimming, three in cycling and one in triathlon.
“Our athletes belong on podiums, we expect to win and we expect to break records,” said Sarah Powell, chief executive of Sport Wales, who added that the long-term aim for Wales is to take the number one spot in terms of medals per head of population.
Wales scooped 19 medals in Delhi four years ago, including golds in athletics, boxing and lawn bowls. Triathlon was excluded from the Games as the organisers said there was no suitable venue for the swimming.
Non Stanford, Helen Jenkins… but no Leanda Cave?
This time round, Wales stands a very strong chance of coming away with at least one medal in the triathlon, as they can count on two of the fastest female triathletes currently racing Olympic distance – reigning ITU world champion Non Stanford and former world champion Helen Jenkins.
While Welsh Triathlon has not yet confirmed its triathlon squad for Glasgow 2014, former Ironman world champion Leanda Cave wrote a few days ago on her personal blog that she has been left out of the team, apparently due to her lack of suitability for the super-sprint distance team relay event.
Describing her disappointment, Cave writes: “This would have been my last Commonwealth Games had I made the team. I feel I could have done my bit to help Non and Helen win medals. And furthermore, I feel I could have had a bloody decent race myself.”
The Welsh triathlon team is due to be announced within the next week or so, watch this space for news as soon as we have it…
(Main image: Delly Carr/ITU)
Jamie Beach
Former digital editor 
