Emma Finucane: Who is Wales’ new gold medal star at Paris 2024?

For Finucane, winning Olympic gold was her childhood dream come true.

It started at Carmarthen Velodrome in 2011 where eight-year-old Emma would go along with her sister, Rosie, and brother, Sean as she began with pink tassels hanging off her handlebars.

With her skills honed at local cycling club, Towy Riders, Finucane’s progress since has been – as she is on the track – very quick and achieved with a minimum of fuss or fanfare.

There are no more pink tassels.

Aged 16 she was a junior European champion and aged 18, a national champion in the senior National Track Championships.

A bronze medal followed in 2022 at the Commonwealth Games before a stunning success in 2023 as Finucane won sprint gold at the World Championships, becoming the third Briton to achieve the feat after Victoria Pendleton and compatriot Becky James.

Earlier this year, Finucane won the European women’s sprint title – along with silvers in the team sprint and keirin. It was the best performance by a British sprinter at a European Championships.

The stage was set for Finucane to make her mark in Paris… and she did exactly that as she joined Katy Marchant and Sophie Capewell in winning gold in a world record time.

Finucane was also roared on by her parents in Monday’s dramatic final, with her father Rory and mother Susie Finucane hiring a camper van and driving the whole family over from Carmarthen.

“That whizzy moment when she crossed the line made our effort of the last 10 years or so all worth it,” father Rory reflected.

“That was her dream and she is living it.”

“It’s insane, unbelievable,” mother Susie added. “Just to be an Olympian is unbelievable. For us as a family, it’s amazing.

“We are just so proud of her.”