Ela Letton-Jones, who studies criminology at Manchester Metropolitan University alongside her swimming training, won Wales’ first medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after finishing second in the S13 100m freestyle. The 19-year-old para-swimmer from Felinheli was beaten only by Australia’s Jenna Jones, clocking one minute 4.30 seconds.
Her success came after she also finished second in the qualifying round earlier in the day. Letton-Jones, who has albinism that affects her sight, said she was proud to deliver under pressure after being regarded as one of Wales’ leading medal hopes.
The swimmer from Felinheli won Wales’ first medal of this year’s Commonwealth Games.
Letton-Jones said:
"Ro'n i'n gwybod bod hynny'n dod gyda'r pwysau, felly dwi'n falch fy mod i wedi gallu cyflawni a gobeithio rhoi momentwm i Dîm Cymru ennill mwy o fedalau."
She added:
"Fe wnes i fwynhau, ac rwy'n falch fy mod i wedi achos mae'n profi fy mod i'n nofio llawer gwell pan dwi'n hapus."
She said the atmosphere in the pool had been a special experience, with the crowd helping her push on. She also said her family’s support had been very important to her success.
"Roedd Mam, Dad a Nain yma ac rwy'n ddiolchgar am eu cefnogaeth nhw achos allwn i ddim fod wedi ennill medal arian hebddyn nhw,"meddai.
Ela Letton-Jones, who is from Felinheli, competes in para-swimming categories because she has albinism, a congenital condition that affects her vision. The condition means she has to count her strokes while swimming so she knows when she is nearing the pool wall.
Even so, she has continued to aim for the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, after narrowly missing out on the Paris Games in 2024.
Ela Letton-Jones won a silver medal at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in her debut at the competition, taking victory in the S12 100m backstroke.
Her success in Glasgow came on the first full day of competition for Team Wales, with 113 athletes representing the nation across 10 sports.
