Track bicycle owner Emma Finucane has been named the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year for 2023.

Emma Finucane, from Carmarthen, began driving when she was eight years previous, along with her youthful sister Rosie at Towy Riders. After being noticed by the Great Britain Cycling Team, she joined the academy programme in 2018, turning into a junior European champion a 12 months later.

A breakthrough 12 months for Emma, 2023 kicked off with a bang as she took all 4 girls’s dash titles on the National Track Championships, adopted by her first particular person Track Nations Cup win within the dash. After successful two silver medals on the European Championships, the spotlight of her profession to date got here in August along with her first world title on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, turning into solely the third ever British feminine dash world champion, and the youngest at simply 20 years previous.

On receiving the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year award, Finucane commented: “This is surreal! I actually respect that individuals have appreciated what I’ve achieved. It’s good to have a nation behind me, supporting me. We are fairly a small nation however to have that zeal behind us and to have them on my sleeve as properly is basically vital.”

The award was determined by an professional panel of judges, chaired by Paralympic nice Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who has gained the award herself thrice. The panel additionally included Leshia Hawkins (CEO, Cricket Wales), Laura Kenyon (Assistant Editor, BBC Cymru Wales Sport), Owen Lewis (Director, Sport System, Sport Wales), Sue Butler (Managing Editor, BBC Cymru Wales Sport), Professor Katie Thirlaway (Dean of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University) and Wales netball and soccer worldwide Nia Jones.

Tanni Grey-Thompson says of Finucane, “She has had amazing performances this year, especially for someone so young. Her individual performances are amazing, and when you look back at the history of women’s cycling in the UK, she’s got a huge amount to look up to. And when you look at the impact a small nation like Wales has to this sport, it’s brilliant.”

On the 12 months that Welsh sport has had, she provides, “When you see it all written down on paper, every month of the year, there are amazing things happening in Wales. BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year is a lovely celebration of Welsh sport, which keeps doing amazingly well. Welsh sport is always punching above its weight.”

Athletes who had been extremely counseled within the decision-making course of included Wales soccer worldwide Sophie Ingle, swimmer Matt Richards, Paralympian Aled Sion Davies, darts participant Gerwyn Price and two boxers – Lauren Price and IBF super-featherweight World Champion Joe Cordina.

Emma Finucane now joins an extended listing of Welsh sporting royalty to have gained the award. Previous winners embrace para-athlete Olivia Breen, who gained the award final 12 months, Wales rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones, Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones, boxer Joe Calzaghe, Wales footballer Gareth Bale and bicycle owner Geraint Thomas, who offered the award to Emma through a video message.

LD3