Bethan Davies

Bethan Davies
Personal information
NationalityBritish (Welsh)
Born (1990-11-07) 7 November 1990 (age 34)
Cardiff, Wales
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Weight62 kg (137 lb)[1]
Sport
SportRacewalking
Event20 km walk
Coached byAndi Drake
Achievements and titles
Personal best20 km walk: 1:31:53
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Wales
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gold Coast 20 km walk

Bethan Davies (born 7 November 1990) is a British racewalker who competes in the 20 kilometres walk event. She was the bronze medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and has represented her country at the World Championships in Athletics and IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships. She holds the indoor British record in the 3000 metres walk (12:44.99 minutes) and the Commonwealth record for the indoor 5000 metres walk (21:25.37 minutes).[2]

Career

Born in Cardiff, she studied neuroscience at the University of Leeds and ran cross country for the varsity team.[1] She began racewalking after filling in for her team in the event and had the opportunity to compete against elite walker Johanna Jackson. She began training and learning the sport under coach Andi Drake.[3]

She broke through at national level in 2012, winning the British under-20 title in the 10,000 metres walk before placing third at the 2012 British Athletics Championships in the 5000 m distance. Davies won that title the following year at the 2013 British Athletics Championships and also made her debut over 20 km, making her international debut at the 2013 European Race Walking Cup and placing third in the 20 km national championship. She missed most of the 2014 season, but returned in 2015 with runner-up placings nationally over 5000 m and 20 km. She won national titles indoors and outdoors in 2016, though she failed to finish the 20 km races at the 2016 IAAF World Race Walking Team Championships and the Dudinská Päťdesiatka.[4]

Davies had a breakthrough in the 2017 season. She won the 5000 m walk at the 2017 British Athletics Championships then represented Great Britain at the 2017 European Race Walking Cup (finishing 22nd) and at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics held in London, where she ranked 29th overall. She described the latter experience as her best ever, having the home crowd cheer her on and call out her name.[5] She also finished sixth at the Oceania Race Walking Championships, taking part as a guest.[4]

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2013 European Race Walking Cup Dudince, Slovakia 45th 20 km walk 1:54:11
2016 World Race Walking Team Championships Rome, Italy — 20 km walk DQ
2017 European Race Walking Cup Poděbrady, Czech Republic 22nd 20 km walk 1:36:04
World Championships London, United Kingdom 29th 20 km walk 1:33:10
2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Cost, Australia 3rd 20 km walk 1:36:08

National titles

References

  1. ^ a b c Bethan Davies. Gold Coast 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  2. ^ Jon Mulkeen (18 February 2018). "Philip, Muir and Pozzi among the winners at British Indoor Championships". IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  3. ^ Athlete insight – Bethan Davies. Athletics Weekly (2015-11-28). Retrieved 2018-04-08.
  4. ^ a b Bethan Davies. Power of 10. Retrieved on 2018-04-08.
  5. ^ World Championships 2017: Walker Bethan Davies' joy at Worlds experience. BBC Sport (2017-08-13). Retrieved on 2018-04-08.