Australia’s Advance Australia Fair has been the unerring soundtrack of the 2026 Commonwealth Games but head to the velodrome and there is at least one other anthem giving it a run for its money. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau has rung out three times already in the first two days of track cycling and if Emma Finucane has anything to do with it, non-Welsh speakers may know at least a few of the words by Sunday evening.
Finucane has already been responsible for two renditions, first leading the women’s team sprint to glory alongside Lowri Thomas and Rhian Edmunds on Thursday before taking the individual crown in the centrepiece of Friday’s action.
Thursday’s team event was a close run thing between Wales and England, who boasted Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant, the other two riders who won Olympic team sprint gold with Finucane at Paris 2024.
But Friday evening was Finucane’s time to shine alone as she utterly dominated the impressive field and issued a calling card ahead of October’s Track World Championships in Shanghai: she is the one to beat.
The individual sprint is usually characterised as a game of cat and mouse but Finucane had no time for toying with her prey as she ruthlessly hunted down each rider. The 23-year-old did not lose a single race en route to victory and never looked close to doing so.
Finucane first swept aside New Zealand’s Rebecca Petch before she dethroned reigning Commonwealth and Olympic champion Ellesse Andrews with ease. Andrews had beaten Finucane in the semi-finals at Paris 2024 but the pair were worlds apart in Glasgow and the Welshwoman now has the chance to replicate Andrews’ sprint hat-trick when she goes in the keirin on Sunday. She could already have three golds by then as she takes on the kilo and in this form, who would bet against her.
Finucane got past Wales team-mate Edmunds to set up a sprint showdown with Capewell, and though she was pushed the hardest by her fellow Olympic champion, it was another procession.
Finucane and Capewell have been on different journeys since Paris, with the latter suffering from injury. She could only be in awe at what Finucane has been producing.
“Obviously I am a little disappointed to lose the gold medal final but Emma was on a different level,” said Capewell. “She’s one of the best in the world. It's amazing to see where she's at. She's a good benchmark to chase now.”
Much has been made of big stars swerving these Games but Finucane was never going to turn down the opportunity to represent Wales and the form she has produced in Glasgow is frightening for everyone else.
Only when she had the flag wrapped around her and the anthem played did the mask of the cold-blooded killer slip and reveal the emotions within. The tears flowed as Finucane spoke about a nation punching well above its weight on the track.
“The Commonwealth Games are the pinnacle for Wales, and it's really special,” said Finucane. “I literally rode the Welsh dragon all the way to the line. My dad would have loved every second of it. I raced for Wales, for my family in the crowd, and for everyone who's supported me.
“We're a small nation, but we're certainly not quiet. You should have seen the team camp. We were singing, we were having a great time, and I think that's a big reason why we've come into these Games and achieved so much already.
“We've still got two more days to go, so I'm really excited to see what else we can do.”
The Commonwealth Games has been looking for its stars and in Finucane it has one shining bright. And she is not done yet.
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