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Finalists for Emerging Athlete of the Year 2023
These promising athletes made their breakthrough in 2022-23. The winner will be the recipient of the Gareth John Bursary to support their progression.
Rhys Darbey
Rhys is an S14 Para Swimmer. He swims with Nofio Clwyd and is part of Swim Wales’s Elite Transition Squad. Rhys won a silver medal at the 2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester this year and at just 16 years old it was his first major international event and debut performance with the British squad.
Funmi Oduwaiye
Former international basketball player Funmi started her para sport journey in 2021. She has since claimed the Welsh shot put and discus title, gained selection on the British Athletics World Class Programme and competed in the World Para Athletics Championships in both shot put and discus and is ranked 3rd in the world in the F44 Shot Put.
Tomi Roberts Jones
Tomi first got involved with athletics at 10 years old after attending a DSW insport Series event. He has since been
dedicated to his training and development resulting in Team Wales selection this year. Tomi made history by being the first Welsh para-athlete to compete at a Commonwealth Youth Games and went on to win the Gold Medal in the T38 100m.
Grace Williams
Balancing her studying and training on the British Table Tennis programme, Grace was selected to represent Team Wales at the Commonwealth Games 2022. She has had a fantastic 12 months claiming a gold medal in the doubles class at the World Para Table Tennis Championships and a Silver medal in the Class 8 Singles at the European Championships.
