Sport Wales Chairperson Professor Laura McAllister is no stranger to picking out the very best Welsh sporting talent. A former BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year judging panel member – and a judge for the Wales Sport Awards 2013 – she gives her views on the runners and riders for the BBC Cymru Wales prize this year.
I know from experience that picking out the achievements of one World Champion against another isn’t the easiest of tasks.
Why should someone at the very top of their sport be put up on a pedestal above someone else who is equally as revered?
But I guess that’s the reason why we love sport. We all have our opinion and favourites because we are able to relate to their story in a way that gives us a sense of pride. We will all have someone who we think should be in the top five of the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year shortlist. It’s because we care so much that there is always debate around those who make the judges’ pick.
I believe the five-strong shortlist would sit comfortably in a similar contest in any country across the globe.
*Non Stanford - 2013 ITU Triathlon World Champion
*Gareth Bale - a world record fee for a player who scooped Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Young Player of the Year, the PFA Players' Player of the Year and the Football Writers Awards Footballer of the Year.
*Leigh Halfpenny - Played all three Lions tests, winning player of the series and breaking the Lions points record. He also broke the record for most points in one test.
*Aled Sion Davies – In the shot putt at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships he set a new world record in securing the gold medal.
*Becky James - The first British cyclist ever to win four medals at a World Championships
We’re only ‘little old Wales’ remember, a nation of just 3 million people but a nation where sport defines its people - it is a fundamental part of our DNA.
I believe a child taking part in sport on our playing fields today should aspire to follow this fantastic five. We should expect to produce world-class sports performers, because we do time and again. Of the 94 cyclists currently on the UK Pathway, 14 are Welsh - that's 15% of the UK total. In disability athletics, it's a quarter (all with under 5% of the UK population). For the next Olympic/Paralympic cycle, there are 75 Welsh athletes on the UK pathway (exceeding the 5% population) and approximately 200 athletes on talent initiatives in Wales to feed into that.
One thing that strikes me is the diversity of the shortlisted five. These are people excelling in different sports; in teams or as individuals; males and females; disabled and able bodied. It proves that we have opportunities and a path to the top that’s not limited to one or two sports.
When I think of these role models I always think of how this relates to our aspiration of getting every child hooked on sport for life. We were all delighted with the recent news from our School Sport Survey that 50% more children are hooked on sport in Wales and taking part in sport on three or more occasions. There are so many factors that have contributed to this healthy climb since 2011, but what we do know is that London 2012 was sandwiched in between.
Sport Wales has two objectives: some might only think of ‘creating a nation of champions’- that we are just about high performance sport and winning medals.
But our ambitions are so much more than that. Yes, by scattering seeds in the garden we will grow more talent to give our small nation an even greater sense of sporting pride on the international stage, but more importantly it will drive opportunities and aspirations for every child to find their personal podium, whether that be in sport, in work, or in life more generally.
It is why we keep shouting about the vital role of schools. Schools offer a ‘captive audience’ who will, we know, will try anything at young age, but become cautious and embarrassed at the fear of failure as they grow older. This makes it even more critical to develop their competence and confidence early on.
We have been set a critical and bold challenge by our Government. The Programme for Government states that physical literacy is as important as reading and writing.
After receiving in-depth evidence from a range of experts, a group chaired by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson unanimously decided to call for PE to be made a core subject in the curriculum, alongside English, Welsh, Maths and Science.
One recommendation - because anything less radical would simply address the symptoms.
Linking that to the power of our role models, it can be no coincidence that a generation of young people have been inspired by the exploits of their sporting superheroes and looked to emulate the success they have seen. We need to show what the result can be when you have the right opportunities and the right drive and ambition.
Becky and Non in particular can lead the way for young girls as we still battle to close the gender gap that so blights our sporting landscape.
Let me point out at this stage that I have seen the hard work that Aled, Non and Becky put in to reaching the top. I have seen them at our centre training and planning how they can squeeze every last ounce of work into reaching the top. Leigh and Gareth and are no different; talked about all over the world for their skill, passion and dedication.
On the subject of inspiration and role models, it is why major events like the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the IPC European Athletics Championships in Swansea – both in 2014 – are so important. They give our elite stars the chance to shine and the chance to show impressionable young eyes what they can follow. In the case of the Commonwealth Games, we have a multi-sport event where we have the unique chance to unite under the Welsh vest – and one that our athletes are so keen to wear with pride.
So, who will be the winner of the BBC Cymru Wales Sports personality of the Year? Your guess is as good as mine, but all would be worthy of the prize.
For more on the Wales Sport Awards visit www.walessportawards.co.uk***
Mae Cadeirydd Chwaraeon Cymru, yr Athro Laura McAllister, yn gyfarwydd iawn â dewis talent chwaraeon ddisgleiriaf Cymru. Yn gyn aelod o banel beirniaid Personoliaeth Chwaraeon y Flwyddyn BBC Cymru Wales – a beirniad Gwobrau Chwaraeon Cymru 2013 – dyma ei barn am yr athletwyr sy’n ymgiprys am wobr BBC Cymru Wales eleni.
Rydw i’n gwybod o brofiad nad yw dewis rhwng cyflawniadau un Pencampwr Byd ac un arall yn dasg hawdd o gwbl.
Pam ddylai rhywun sydd wedi cyrraedd brig ei gamp gael ei roi ar bedestal uwch na rhywun arall sydd yr un mor uchel ei barch?
Ond mae’n bur debyg mai dyna pam ein bod ni wrth ein bodd gyda chwaraeon. Mae gennym ni i gyd ein barn a’n ffefrynnau, oherwydd rydyn ni’n gallu uniaethu â’u stori mewn ffordd sy’n ennyn ymdeimlad o falchder ynom ni. Mae gennym ni i gyd rwy’n siŵr farn am unigolyn ddylai fod ymhlith y pump uchaf ar restr fer Personoliaeth Chwaraeon y Flwyddyn BBC Cymru Wales. Mae llawer o drafod am y rhai sy’n cael eu dewis gan y beirniaid am ein bod ni’n malio cymaint.
Rydw i’n credu y byddai’r rhestr fer o bump athletwr disglair yn edrych yn gyfforddus mewn cystadleuaeth debyg mewn unrhyw wlad yn y byd.
*Leigh Halfpenny – Chwaraeodd ym mhob un o dair gêm brawf y Llewod, chwaraewr buddugol y gyfres a thorrodd record pwyntiau’r Llewod. Hefyd torrodd y record am y nifer mwyaf o bwyntiau mewn un prawf.
*Becky James – Y feicwraig gyntaf erioed o Brydain i ennill pedair medal mewn Pencampwriaethau Byd
Dim ond ‘Cymru fach’ ydyn ni cofiwch, gwlad o ddim ond 3 miliwn o bobl, ond gwlad ble mae chwaraeon yn diffinio pobl – mae’n rhan annatod o’n DNA ni.
Rydw i’n credu y dylai plentyn sy’n cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon ar ein caeau chwarae ni heddiw geisio dilyn yn ôl troed y pump penigamp yma. Fe ddylen ni ddisgwyl cynhyrchu perfformwyr chwaraeon o safon byd, oherwydd rydyn ni’n gwneud hynny dro ar ôl tro. O blith y 94 o feicwyr ar Lwybr y DU ar hyn o bryd, mae 14 yn Gymry – sef 15% o gyfanswm y DU. Ym myd athletau’r anabl, mae’n chwarter (gyda llai na 5% o boblogaeth y DU). Ar gyfer y cylch Olympaidd/Paralympaidd nesaf, mae 75 o athletwyr o Gymru ar lwybr y DU (gan ragori ar 5% o’r boblogaeth) ac mae oddeutu 200 o athletwyr ar fentrau talent yng Nghymru’n bwydo i hynny.
Un peth sy’n fy nharo i yw amrywiaeth y pump ar y rhestr fer. Dyma bobl sy’n rhagori mewn gwahanol gampau; mewn timau neu fel unigolion; dynion a merched; anabl ac abl. Mae’n profi bod gennym ni gyfleoedd a llwybrau i’r brig sydd heb eu cyfyngu i un neu ddwy o gampau.
Pan fydda’ i’n meddwl am y modelau rôl yma, rydw i bob amser yn meddwl am sut mae hyn yn gysylltiedig â’n dyhead ni i gael pob plentyn i wirioni ar chwaraeon am oes. Roedden ni i gyd wrth ein bodd gyda’r newyddion diweddar o’r Arolwg ar Chwaraeon Ysgol a gynhaliwyd gennym ni bod 50% yn fwy o blant wedi gwirioni ar chwaraeon yng Nghymru ac yn cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon deirgwaith neu fwy. Mae cymaint o ffactorau wedi cyfrannu at y cynnydd iach yma ers 2011, ond yr hyn rydyn ni yn ei wybod wrth gwrs ydi bod Llundain 2012 wedi digwydd yn y canol.
Mae gan Chwaraeon Cymru ddau nod: efallai mai dim ond am ‘greu cenedl o bencampwyr’ mae rhai yn meddwl – mai dim ond chwaraeon perfformiad uchel ac ennill medalau sy’n bwysig i ni.
Ond mae ein huchelgais ni’n llawer mwy na hynny. Drwy hau hadau yn yr ardd, fe fyddwn ni’n meithrin mwy o dalent i roi mwy fyth o ymdeimlad o falchder i’n gwlad fechan ni wrth gyflawni ar y llwyfan chwaraeon rhyngwladol ond, yn bwysicach, bydd yn sbarduno cyfleoedd a dyheadau i bob plentyn ddod o hyd i’w bodiwm personol ei hun, boed mewn chwaraeon, byd gwaith neu mewn bywyd yn fwy cyffredinol.
Dyna pam ein bod ni fel tiwn gron wrth sôn am rôl hanfodol ysgolion. Mae gan ysgolion ‘gynulleidfa barod’ sy’n fodlon rhoi cynnig ar unrhyw beth pan maen nhw’n ifanc, ond sy’n fwy amheus ac yn teimlo mwy o embaras ac yn ofni methu wrth iddyn nhw dyfu’n hŷn. Mae hyn yn golygu ei bod yn fwy hanfodol fyth datblygu eu hyder a’u medrusrwydd o oedran ifanc.
Mae ein Llywodraeth wedi gosod her allweddol a beiddgar i ni. Mae’r Rhaglen Lywodraethu’n datgan bod llythrennedd corfforol yr un mor bwysig â darllen ac ysgrifennu.
Ar ôl derbyn tystiolaeth fanwl gan amrywiaeth o arbenigwyr, gwnaed penderfyniad unfrydol gan grŵp a gadeiriwyd gan y Fonesig Tanni Grey-Thompson i alw am wneud AG yn bwnc craidd ar y cwricwlwm, ochr yn ochr â Saesneg, Cymraeg, Mathemateg a Gwyddoniaeth.
Un argymhelliad – oherwydd dim ond rhoi sylw i’r symptomau fyddai unrhyw beth llai radical.
O gysylltu hynny â phŵer ein modelau rôl, nid cyd-ddigwyddiad yw’r ffaith bod cenhedlaeth o bobl ifanc wedi cael eu hysbrydoli gan gampau eu harwyr chwaraeon mawr ac eisiau efelychu’r llwyddiant maen nhw wedi’i weld. Mae’n rhaid i ni ddangos yn awr pa ganlyniad y gellir ei gael o gynnig y cyfleoedd priodol a sicrhau’r sbardun a’r uchelgais priodol.
Fe all Becky a Non yn arbennig arwain y ffordd i ferched ifanc, wrth i ni frwydro o hyd i gau’r bwlch rhwng y rhywiau sy’n amharu ar ein tirlun chwaraeon.
Gadewch i mi ddweud yn y fan yma fy mod i wedi gweld y gwaith caled y mae Aled, Non a Becky wedi’i wneud i gyrraedd y brig. Rydw i wedi eu gweld nhw yn ein canolfan ni’n ymarfer ac yn cynllunio sut gallan’ nhw wasgu pob mymryn posib o waith i mewn er mwyn cyrraedd y brig. Ac mae’r un peth yn wir am Leigh a Gareth; sy’n adnabyddus ledled y byd am eu sgil, eu hangerdd a’u hymrwymiad.
O ran ysbrydoli a modelau rôl, dyna pam mae cystadlaethau mawr fel y Gemau Cymanwlad yn Glasgow a Phencampwriaethau Athletau Ewropeaidd y Pwyllgor Paralympaidd Rhyngwladol yn Abertawe – y ddwy i’w cynnal yn 2014 – mor bwysig. Dyma gyfle i’n sêr elitaidd ni ddisgleirio a dangos i ieuenctid hawdd dylanwadu arnyn nhw beth gallan’ nhw ei ddilyn. O ran Gemau’r Gymanwlad, dyma ddigwyddiad aml-chwaraeon sy’n cynnig cyfle unigryw i uno y tu ôl i fest Cymru – dilledyn y mae ein hathletwyr ni’n awyddus iawn i’w wisgo gyda balchder.
Felly, pwy fydd enillydd Personoliaeth Chwaraeon y Flwyddyn BBC Cymru Wales? Pwy a ŵyr, ond maen nhw i gyd yn deilwng o’r wobr.
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Sport Wales Chairperson Professor Laura McAllister is no stranger to picking out the very best Welsh sporting talent. A former BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year judging panel member – and a judge for the Wales Sport Awards 2013 – she gives her views on the runners and riders for the BBC Cymru Wales prize this year.
