Carmarthenshire school pupils’ welcome home their Olympic heroes

Carmarthenshire’s Olympic gold and bronze medal cyclists, Emma Finucane and Jessica Roberts both received a hero’s welcome by pupils of their former schools at Carmarthen Leisure Centre today, Tuesday, 5 November 2024.

Pupils from over 10 schools, including Model School and St John Lloyd which Emma attended as a pupil, and Johnston School and QE High School where Jessica was educated, cheered and celebrated their brilliant Olympians at a special question-and-answer event, arranged by Carmarthenshire County Council and hosted by Rhodri Gomer Davies.

During this year’s Paris Olympics, 21-year-old Emma Finucane, won gold as part of the Great Britain & Northern Ireland's women’s track cycling team sprint, before claiming the bronze medal in the keirin and sprint disciplines. Emma is the first British woman to win three medals at a single Olympic games since 1964.

Jessica Roberts, 25 years of age, won bronze in the women’s track cycling team pursuit event in Paris.

Not content with their phenomenal Olympic success, both girls have since become UCI World Champions in their specialised fields.

On receiving their much-deserved applause from adoring school pupils, Jessica Roberts said:

It’s really special to me as this is where it all started for me. Carmarthen is not the biggest place, so to have two people from Carmarthen that have had some great success in cycling is special. It’s great to be back here and I just want to inspire some young kids to do what we do.”

Emma Finucane said:

It’s incredible to come home and to have this reception, here today, was pretty surreal. I didn’t realise how many schools would be here today but it’s why I do it, I want to inspire young girls and boys to get on their bike and ride. To come back to where it started, to come back to the velodrome and to see my friends and family is really, really special.”

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism - Cllr Hazel Evans said:

We are so very proud of both Emma and Jessica’s achievements at the Olympics this year and it is wonderful to see our school pupils celebrate their heroes’ success.

It is worth noting that both Jessica and Emma began their illustrious careers with Towy Riders on the Velodrome in Carmarthen. Their journey from local talent to international champions is a testament to their hard work and the excellent support from our community. 

Emma’s achievements have also been recognised locally, as she has been the winner of Carmarthenshire’s Annual Sports Personality Awards for the past two years. Furthermore, she is the current BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year. Her consistent excellence and dedication to her sport are truly inspiring. 

Emma and Jessica are not only Olympic medallists, they are also Carmarthenshire girls and are inspiring the next generation of athletes. Llongyfarchiadau mawr i chi ferched.”