Wales has produced some of the finest sporting talent the world has ever seen over the years, from elite teams to skilled individuals. It has a rich sporting heritage and a passion for sports of all kinds, from football and running to rugby and boxing. Over the years, some of the sporting stars have really stood out for their achievements and talents. These are the best athletes in history who hail from Wales and the awards they’ve won over the course of their careers.
Colin Jackson
Jackson is one of the finest Welsh athletes to have never won an Olympic gold medal, given how talented the 110m hurdler was within his discipline. But Colin Jackson wasn’t without awards for his achievements – he won a silver medal in the 1988 Seoul Games and also won gold in the World Championships in Stuttgart and Seville, as well as four European and two Commonwealth crowns.
Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe is one of the country’s most incredible boxers and was a super-middleweight powerhouse for over a decade. He won blockbuster fights with the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Mikkel Kessler and Chris Eubank, among many others, and won 36 or his 43 professional fights. In addition to all of this, Calzaghe was also named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2007.
Gareth Bale
Whether you’re a football fan or not, there’s no escaping the man of the moment. Bale is beloved by the Welsh and Tottenham fans alike and is known for his pace, power and goal scoring skills. He had a breakthrough season that saw him attract huge interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe even though new bookmakers believe he will soon be moving clubs, he has secured his name on the list of best athletes Wales has ever seen.
Gareth Edwards
Edwards is widely considered to be one of the greatest rugby players ever to sport a Wales shirt and played alongside Barry John and JPR Williams in the Five Nations in the 1970s. He played 53 times for his country and also scored what is possibly the finest try in rugby history against New Zealand that is one of the crowning highlights of his career.
Lynn Davies
Known for the long jump in particular, Lynn Davies was a former track and field athlete. Davies won gold on numerous occasions throughout his career, including the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, the 1966 European Championships in Hungary and two long jump golds in the Commonwealth Games in 1966 and 1970. Earning the nickname “Lynn the Leap”, Davies enjoyed a spectacular career and served Wales well in terms of achievements and pride.
Nicola Cooke
A professional road bicycler and road race champion from Swansea, Nicola Cooke became the first woman to become an Olympic gold medallist and the road race world championship in the same year, winning both titles back in 2008. She also won gold in Beijing for the women’s road race and claimed the Commonwealth Games road race title in 2002.