Davies wins gold for Team Wales in Glasgow

Para-athlete Aled Davies has won Wales' second Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the men's F42-44/F61-64 discus.

Davies, 35, followed the success of gymnast Ruby Evans on a night where Welsh para-athletes won three medals.

Funmi Oduwaiye and Bree Cronin won silver and bronze in the women's F42-44/F61-64 discus final.

It is a second Commonwealth Games gold for Davies following his success in Birmingham four years ago, while he claimed silver in Glasgow in 2014.

Wales have now won two golds, five silver and eight bronze in their medal haul of 15 with four more additional podium positions guaranteed in boxing.

The F42 and F44 scores in World Para-athletics multi-class events are calculated using the Raza points system, a mathematical formula based on a Gompertz function that converts an athlete's physical distance or height (in metres) into a standardised point score.

So Davies, who is in the F42 section, threw a best of 48.38 metres and while others produced further distances, the scoring system ensured he won gold, while his compatriot Harrison Walsh, who is in the F44 category, finished fifth.

England's Dan Greaves, who is in the F44 category, launched a Games record of 54.83m and finished fourth.

Davies says defending his title and winning gold for Wales was special.

"I still can't quite believe I did it because I've had such a turbulent year," said Davies.

"My performances haven't been there. It was hard but we dug in and I trusted the process.

"I've sacrificed a lot and worked hard and I have got such a supportive circle around me.

"I'm just glad I delivered my best performance of the year when it mattered at the Commonwealth Games.

"It must be the fact I just love to represent Wales."

Davies has been working with a new coach called Dale Stevenson in Australia as they aim towards the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.

"I have made a lot of changes and accepted I was going to take a few steps back to go a few forward with a bigger picture in mind," said Davies.

"It's been about rhythm and timing. I'm in the best shape ever and grateful for my coach

"He's put me in a great place, but we're also building towards something in two years' time.

"So this year was always going to be a tough ask.

"It's only started to come together in the last couple of weeks and probably only then did I think I could do some damage here.

"So I am delighted to come out and throw my biggest throw on this stage."

Davies is more known as a shot putter and has described the discus as a hobby with him only concentrating on it at the Commonwealth Games.

"It really is a hobby because I only pick it up every four years," said Davies.

"It's not a Paralympic event for me. I know I won my first Paralympic gold in London in 2012 in the discus but it was sadly taken out of the programme.

"So I spent years moulding myself into a shot putter with that little tease of Commonwealth Games discus every four years.

"It's hard to say no but after Birmingham, I did a lot of damage and had to have my hip redone and I was told I might not be able to spin again.

"I am just glad I have come back and managed to perform when it matters."

Davies was unsure if he will represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games again.

"It's really tough," said Davies.

"I've got to wait and see because the focus is shot put in Los Angeles now.

"That's what pays the bills and I've got to focus on that.

"I'm not getting any younger and the standards are getting higher.

"So i'm not going to be able to rock up a few months out for much longer when these guys are working so hard.

"I'm just glad I am still competitive."