Cardiff Met alumna Ashleigh Barnikel says pulling on the Team Wales kit has made the build-up to Glasgow 2026 feel even more special as she prepares to represent Wales in judo at the Commonwealth Games. Barnikel was among the Welsh athletes attending Team Wales Kitting Out at the ICC in Newport, where athletes collected their official kit, took part in media activity and came together as part of the wider Games squad. For the Welsh judoka, the day was another proud step towar

Cardiff Met’s presence at the Team Wales Kitting Out days is being felt far beyond the athletes preparing to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Suzy Rattenberry-Drane, Chair of the Team Wales Athletes’ Commission and Senior Lecturer in Sport Development at Cardiff Met, spoke proudly about the University’s wider contribution during Kitting Out at the ICC in Newport. While a number of Cardiff Met-connected athletes are preparing to represent Wales this summer, Suzy

Bethan Dyke says the Commonwealth Games is “starting to feel real” after joining her Wales netball teammates at Team Wales Kitting Out ahead of Glasgow 2026. The Wales netball captain and Cardiff Met alumna was among the athletes at the ICC in Newport as Team Wales continued preparations for this summer’s Games. For Dyke, the day brought the squad together with staff, athletes from other sports and the wider Team Wales environment, marking another important step towards Glasg

For many athletes, reaching the highest level in one sport is the ultimate goal. For Cardiff Met student-athlete Will Bishop, success has come through excelling across two. Balancing the demands of athletics and wheelchair basketball, Bishop has established himself as one of Cardiff Met's most versatile athletes, with his recent selection for Team Wales' 3x3 wheelchair basketball squad for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games marking another significant milestone in an impress

At the special event marking the arrival of the King’s Baton Relay and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Welsh squad announcement, Cardiff Met celebrated another structural milestone: their evolution into “Wales’ Sporting University”. By connecting academic research, elite athletic performance, student-led leadership, and community relationships, the university has built an unmatched ecosystem. To explore what this identity means for the future of the nation, a diverse pane

Cardiff Met’s Head of Strength and Conditioning, Dai Watts, has been supporting the Welsh Boxing Team in Tenerife as preparations continue for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The nine-day training camp, running from 25 June to 3 July, brings together Wales’ Commonwealth Games-bound boxers in an intensive environment designed to sharpen performance ahead of the Games later this month. There is also a further Cardiff Met connection within the squad, Cardiff Met student Dan

Team Wales netballer and Cardiff Met alumna Phillipa Yarranton has spoken about the pride, resilience and lasting relationships behind her journey from student-athlete to the international stage. Photo by Carl Robertson, Fathema interviewing Phillipa at Cardiff Met x Team Wales event Speaking at Cardiff Met as part of the Team Wales build-up, Yarranton described the day as a special moment, both personally and for everyone involved. “I feel super proud,” said Yarranton. “The

As the iconic King’s Baton made its entry into Cardiff, the countdown to Glasgow 2026 truly began for Welsh sport. Led by Chef de Mission Gethin Jones, the event showcased the 114 athletes representing Team Wales in Glasgow; a squad that beautifully balances raw talent and elite experience, including 22 para-athletes and 14 returning medallists. As the baton now winds its way toward Scotland, these athletes carry not just a message from the King, but the hopes of a nation eag

For Team Wales Chef de Mission Gethin Jones, the road to Glasgow 2026 has been years in the making. Gethin Jones pictured with Suzy Drane, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and President of Team Wales Helen Phillips MBE But despite months of planning, athlete selections and preparations behind the scenes, it was the King's Baton Relay event at Cardiff Met that finally made the upcoming Commonwealth Games feel real. Jones was among those welcoming athletes, partners and supporters

Cardiff Metropolitan University has been recognised as part of an award-winning partnership at the Welsh Sport Association Sport Industry Awards 2026, with the Team Wales LeadHERship Programme winning the Best Collaboration Initiative award. The programme, delivered by Team Wales in partnership with Cardiff Met and RBC Brewin Dolphin, was recognised for bringing together sport and business to support, empower and develop the next generation of women leaders. The award was pre

Cardiff Metropolitan University will play a central role in the opening day of the King’s Baton Relay in Wales, as the Baton arrives on campus for the official Team Wales media event ahead of Glasgow 2026. Taking place on Friday 19 June, the visit will see Cardiff Met welcome Team Wales, athletes, media and invited guests to Cyncoed Campus for one of the most significant moments in the build-up to next summer’s Commonwealth Games. The event will include the formal welcome of

Laura Shanahan’s role in shaping Welsh basketball has grown beyond her playing abilities. The Archers' captain has taken up the position of Women’s Head Coach for Wales ahead of the upcoming 3x3 Commonwealth qualifiers. In doing so, Shanahan becomes a key player in the development of a pivotal part of the Welsh basketball program. Shanahan in action for the Archers The selection of Shanahan for this position shows both her experience and the high regard in which she is held

James Ledger’s career stands as another important part of Cardiff Met’s athletics story. A former student at the university, Ledger competed as a visually impaired para-sprinter in the T11 and T12 classifications, balancing academic study with the demands of elite training and competition. During his time at Cardiff Met, he represented Cardiff Archers Athletics Club and developed within an environment designed to help athletes perform at national and international level. 📸

There are not many athletes who can say their Commonwealth Games story began on the way home from a school prom. For Welsh sprinter, Hannah Brier, that is exactly what happened. In 2014, aged just 16, she travelled straight from prom night to Glasgow to compete for Wales, stepping into one of the biggest moments of her young career. More than a decade later, with the Commonwealth Games returning to the city this summer, the former Cardiff Met student could be in line for what

Cardiff Met Sport is proud to be part of the Founding 100 supporting Cymru Women’s Sport, joining a growing movement committed to creating equitable opportunities for women and girls in sport across Wales. Cardiff Met Sport is listed among the organisation’s founding members, alongside individuals, groups and organisations helping drive that change. Cymru Women’s Sport is a not-for-profit charitable organisation dedicated to ensuring women and girls across Wales have equitab

Cardiff Met Sport in partnership with the Team Wales Business Club proudly hosted ArcHER 26 on Wednesday 11 February at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Cyncoed Campus, bringing together leaders, athletes and changemakers for a powerful conversation on leadership, equality and the future of women’s sport. The event focused on amplifying female voices, championing inclusion and reinforcing the shared responsibility to create positive change across sport and society. A Panel