Emma Finucane makes history with third Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow

Emma Finucane made history at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome on Saturday, winning the women's 1,000m time trial to become the first Welsh woman to win three gold medals at a single Commonwealth Games.

The 23-year-old Olympic champion, competing at her second Commonwealth Games, set the pace in the event, which is making its Games debut in Glasgow, clocking one minute 05.285 seconds. Her ride guaranteed her a medal with two riders still on the track, and neither England's Sophie Capewell nor New Zealand's Ellesse Andrews could match the mark. The time trial, a one-kilometre race against the clock, is one of the new events on the Glasgow programme, and the Welsh rider's winning ride set a demanding standard for the field.

Finucane arrived at the time trial as a double gold medallist from these Games, having won the team sprint on Thursday and the individual sprint on Friday. The treble completes a remarkable campaign for the Carmarthen rider, who has now added three Commonwealth titles to the Olympic gold already on her CV and stands as the dominant force of the track cycling programme in Glasgow.

Team-mate Megan Barker, usually an endurance rider, finished fifth in 1:06.345 as Wales added to their medal haul on the boards.

Finucane has one race remaining in Glasgow, the women's keirin on Sunday. One more gold would make her the most successful Welsh woman in the history of the Commonwealth Games, a fitting reward for a rider who has lit up the velodrome all week and cemented her place among the greats of these Games. Whatever happens on Sunday, her place in Commonwealth Games history is already assured.

Sources

• BBC Sport — "Emma Finucane claims third Games gold"