Commonwealth Games | Glasgow 2026

Wrexham’s Thomas Walley has always dreamt of representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games. And in Glasgow this summer, that dream will come true. The pole vaulter is a nine times Welsh Champion and he has won bronze at the British Championships three times.

And making his debut this summer, he’ll hope to do so with a very special lady in the stands – his daughter Margot, who turns three in September.

“I am a very proud Welshman. I’m proud of where I’m from. I’m proud of who I am, and representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games would be an absolute honour and privilege for me and my family.”

He first started in athletics when he was 12, on discovering he had talent in the long jump. A few years later, he made the switch to pole vault thinking it would be “a good bit of fun.”

His breakthrough performance came in 2021 when he cleared 5m for the first time. Twelve months later, he stepped up his training and joined the pole vault and combined events group based in Manchester.

A key highlight was winning his first British Championship medal in 2024, spurred on by his daughter in the stands at just six months old, with his partner Tia.

This year, he has trained and competed in California, jumping an outdoor PB of 5.30, putting two more Commonwealth Games B standards on the board.  

Thomas is a huge football fan and loves to head down to the Racecourse to watch Wrexham AFC. He also juggles a fulltime job at BT with training and competing.

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