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The Welsh cyclist Emma Finucane wrote her name into the history books on the final day of the Commonwealth Games, but Glasgow 2026 will be remembered most for Australia’s dominance.
Before the Games, the Australia swimmer Sam Short had told reporters: “I’m so pumped – I can’t wait to go over there and smash those Pommies up.” And the whole Australia team seemed to get the memo as they finished with 171 medals, of them 70 gold. That put them a staggering 61 clear of England, who won 110 medals, with Canada third after winning 62.
Despite the medal gap to Australia, Team England chef de mission, Jonathon Riall, issued a bullish assessment of the performance. “To finish the Games with 110 medals and second place on the medal table is an incredible achievement, one that every athlete, coach, support staff member and national governing body should be immensely proud of,” he said.
“For Team England, success is about more than medals. It can mean achieving a lifetime best, overcoming adversity simply to reach the start line, or standing on the podium with a medal around your neck. We have seen all those different ways of winning throughout these Games.
“We won medals across nine sports, saw established champions deliver once again on the biggest stage and watched a new generation announce themselves on the Commonwealth stage. This team has embodied everything Team England stands for, and it has been an immense privilege to lead them.”
Finucane will certainly go down as one of the athletes of the Games after becoming the first sprint cyclist to win four track gold medals at the same Commonwealth Games.
The Welsh cyclist added to the golds she had already won in the team and individual sprints and 1,000m time trial, with a bravuro victory in the keirin.
Finucane, who won Olympic gold as part of the Great Britain sprint team at Paris 2024, moved to the front with two laps to go, daring others to get past her. None of them could as she won by half a bike length ahead of the Olympic champion, Ellesse Andrews of New Zealand.
“I was convinced they would come round me,” admitted Finucane. “Honestly it is hard to put into words. I could have easily gone out in the semis.
“After Paris, everything was a huge learning curve for me emotionally,” she added. “That week was really tough, and what I came away with was hard to process. But going into these Games I’ve learned to handle pressure better and regulate my emotions more.”
Finucane now plans to take a holiday with her sister before shifting her focus towards the track world championships in Shanghai in October.
“I definitely did feel the pressure but throughout the week I just rode my own race,” she added. “The team sprint was a big aim. The last time we rode it was four years ago and we got a bronze medal.
“To come back as the same team and win gold was iconic. Singing on the podium with the team was insane. I just rode each race as it came. I went out there and left everything on the track. To stand here and have four golds, I have no words.
She added: “I don’t think I’ll ever believe that I’ve made history here. I can’t believe little me has done this. Ten-year-old Emma is screaming inside, like, ‘What is going on?’ I hope I’ve inspired the nation to get on to a bike and get into a velodrome. I can’t believe I found this sport and this sport found me.”
Earlier on the last day, Leigh Hoffman became the first Australian cyclist to win four medals at one Games by winning the 1km men’s time trial, ensuring he took home three gold and one silver.
And there was more success for Australia in the para bowls as 76-year-old Louise Hoskins became the oldest athlete to win gold in Glasgow.
Hoskins and her partner, Serena Bonnell, secured a 6-3, 4-4 win, leaving Hoskins delighted. “It is incredible. I’m still pinching myself,” she said. “I never thought I’d ever get gold at my age. Get out there and have a go, and never give up.”
Elsewhere Jamaica fell short of pulling off another epic Commonwealth Games upset as they went down 56-48 to New Zealand in the women’s netball final. However England missed out on bronze after being thrashed 68-50 by Australia, who recovered from a shock one-point defeat to Jamaica on Saturday.
“Fourth place is agonising,” admitted the England captain, Fran Williams. “It’s the position nobody really wants to finish in when you’re just outside the medals. We just weren’t clinical enough today, and credit has to go to the Diamonds.
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“Australia managed to show up stronger than us on the day it mattered most. It hurts at the moment, but there are so many lessons to take from this experience.”
At least England were able to win three more gold medals on the final day. Emma Reid successfully defended her women’s 78kg judo title, Katherine Rednall triumphed in the women’s bowls singles final and Matthew Robertson defeated the home favourite Fin Graham in the velodrome to win the C1-C3 3,000m individual pursuit.
