"I wouldn't be where I am without Met": Libi Phillips and Will Bishop reflect on historic Glasgow campaign

Cardiff Met students Libi Phillips and Will Bishop have praised the University's performance environment and support services after helping Wales make history in 3x3 wheelchair basketball at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Will Bishop in action in Glasgow, photo courtesy of Team Wales

Phillips and Bishop were part of the first Welsh women's and men's 3x3 wheelchair basketball teams to compete at a Commonwealth Games. Both squads recorded memorable victories during their debut campaigns before reaching the play-in stage of the competition at Glasgow's SEC Arena. Wales' men defeated Malaysia 14-13 in a dramatic opening contest, while the women began their campaign with a commanding 16-1 victory over India.

Behind those historic performances were months of preparation, rehabilitation and support at Cardiff Met.

Overcoming injury

For Phillips, the journey to Glasgow was particularly significant after two serious injuries during her second year threatened to interrupt her progress in the sport.

"I've had so much support from Cardiff Met over the last 12 months," she said. "I had two huge injuries, the first big injuries I've experienced, during my second year. The support I received through Cardiff Met and TASS, particularly from performance lifestyle and psychology, has been massive.

"I genuinely think I possibly wouldn't even be playing now without that support, especially psychologically. It is so hard to come back from injuries like that."

Alongside the psychological and lifestyle support she received, Phillips believes Cardiff Met's strength and conditioning programme helped her rebuild confidence in her body and rediscover her enjoyment of training.

"The strength and conditioning support has been amazing," she added. "I feel so much better in myself and I'm actually enjoying it, which is great. Being able to train every day, having the court and high-quality training available, and remaining consistent has been massive. I'm really grateful to everyone there."

The Cardiff Met community was also represented in the stands during the competition, providing Phillips with a familiar face during one of the biggest moments of her career.

"It was so nice that Sarah from Cardiff Met could come up and watch," she said. "It was lovely to see that familiar face in the stands. It was a bit emotional, but I'm so grateful to everyone at Cardiff Met."

Libi celebrating in Glasgow, photo courtesy of Team Wales

A dual athlete's path

Bishop's journey has been different but equally shaped by the environment available at the University. A dual athlete who competes in both para athletics and wheelchair basketball, Bishop has been able to train at the National Indoor Athletics Centre before making the short journey across Cyncoed Campus to the Archers Arena.

"The appeal of Cardiff Met for me was being able to be a dual athlete," Bishop said. "You have NIAC and then, literally a two-minute walk down the road, you have the Archers Arena. I've come on leaps and bounds, and I owe an awful lot of my career to Cardiff Met."

Bishop had previously represented Wales in para athletics at the Commonwealth Youth Games before progressing through Cardiff Met's performance pathway and earning senior Commonwealth Games selection in wheelchair basketball.

Like Phillips, he highlighted the role of the support team working behind the scenes throughout the build-up to Glasgow.

"Through performance lifestyle and, of course, strength and conditioning, we have been working tirelessly for probably the last year and a half in preparation for these Games," he said. "There are so many different angles to how Cardiff Met works with Team Wales. There is the official partnership, but we have also had so many current students and alumni in the squad, showing what the Archers can do on the international stage."

A tight-knit community

Cardiff Met connections ran throughout the two Welsh wheelchair basketball squads. Bishop was joined in the men's team by Dan May, while the women's squad included Phillips, Cardiff Met Archers Women's Premier League player Chloe Morgan and Archers national league player Molly Lander. Cardiff Met alumna Beth Jones also supported both squads as team manager.

For Bishop, that representation reflected the close relationship between Cardiff Met and the wider Welsh sporting community.

"Cardiff Met represents what we have with Wales," he said. "It is a tight-knit community. We had a lot of people come up to support us. All I can say is that I'm really, really grateful. I wouldn't be where I am today without Met."

A stage for Cardiff Met's wider mission

The experiences of Phillips and Bishop reflect Cardiff Met's commitment to creating an inclusive performance environment in which athletes can access the people, facilities and support they need to compete nationally and internationally.