Double Olympic champion Matt Richards is hoping to claim Commonwealth gold and complete his major medal collection. The 23‑year‑old swimmer won Olympic golds in 2021 and 2024 and has multiple world and European titles. But four fourth‑place finishes in Birmingham in 2022 left a hole in an otherwise glittering trophy cabinet.

It would mean the world," said Richards, of winning gold in Glasgow 2026. "Every time I've ever stood at the top of the podium I've heard the British national anthem, which is fantastic and amazing and every time it's special. But I've never been able to stand at the top of the podium and hear the Welsh anthem and that's something important to me."

Richards leads a team of 21 swimmers and Para‑swimmers who will compete from Friday, 24 July until Wednesday, 29 July at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The team also includes Olympic gold medallist Kieran Bird and Medi Harris, who won one of only two bronze medals for Wales in the pool at Iy Commonwealths in 2022.

One of Wales' first medal chances in the pool could fall to Ela Letton‑Jones, a 19‑year‑old from Y Felinheli in Gwynedd who won silver at the World Para‑Swimming Championships in Singapore last year, and 17‑year‑old swimmer Theodora Taylor from Torfaen Dolphins, who already won silver at the GB Swimming Championships in April in the 50m freestyle.