Welsh gymnast Ruby Evans has experienced a dramatic turnaround at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Only days after leaving the arena in tears following a disappointing sixth-place finish in the individual all-around final, the 19-year-old Cardiff native secured a historic gold medal in the floor exercise.
This victory marks a significant milestone as Evans becomes the first woman from Wales to win an artistic gymnastics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. The achievement follows a challenging week that included missing out on a team medal and struggling with a shoulder injury.
Evans, who began gymnastics at age five, has already established a notable career, including a fourth-place team finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta. Despite the pressure of being a social media star and the perceived ‘poster girl’ of the Welsh squad, Evans successfully channeled her frustration from earlier losses into her winning floor routine.
After a clean performance that surpassed competitor Abigail Martin, Evans was confirmed as the gold medalist, finally bringing the Welsh national anthem to the podium. Reflecting on her intense week, Evans noted that she performs best when fueled by a bit of competitive fire, adding that she felt a sense of relief and calm once the victory was secured.
