Track cyclist Emma Finucane has been named BBC Cymru Wales Sportswoman of the Year 2023.

2023 started with a breakthrough for Emma, ​​as she won all four women’s sprint titles at the National Athletics Championships, followed by her first victory in the individual track sprint Nations Cup. After winning two silver medals at the European Championships, her career culminated in August with her first world title at the 2023 UCI World Cycling Championships, becoming the third British women’s sprint world champion and the youngest at just 20 years old. years

Emma, ​​​​​​​​​from Carmarthen, started riding horses when she was eight with her younger sister Rosie in Towy Riders.

After being discovered by British cyclists, she joined the academy’s program in 2018 and became junior European champion a year later.

Emma said: “It’s surreal! I really appreciate that people appreciated what I did. It’s good to have a nation behind me that supports me. “We are a very small country, but having that passion behind us and wearing it on our sleeve is also very important.”

The award was decided by an expert jury chaired by Paralympian Grand Baroness Tanni Gray-Thompson, who has won the award three times. The panel also included Leshia Hawkins (Managing Director, Cricket Wales), Laura Kenyon (Assistant Editor, BBC Cymru Wales Sport), Owen Lewis (Director, Sport System, Sport Wales), Sue Butler (Editor-in-Chief, BBC Cymru Wales Sport). . Professor Katie Thirlaway (Dean of Sport and Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University) and Nia Jones, who plays netball and football for Wales.

Tanni Gray-Thompson praised the young driver. “He had some great performances this year, especially for someone so young. His individual performances are impressive and if you look at the history of women’s cycling in Britain there are many examples of it. And when you look at the impact a nation like Wales has had on sport, it’s incredible,” he said.

Athletes who were highly praised in the decision-making process included Welsh international Sophie Ingle, swimmer Matt Richards, Paralympian Aled Sion Davies, darts player Gerwyn Price and two boxers: Lauren Price and IBF super-lightweight world champion Joe Cordina.