Rosie Eccles Targets Medal 'Trilogy' in Commonwealth Games Farewell

Welsh boxer Rosie Eccles is determined to complete her Commonwealth Games career with a third medal, calling her participation in Glasgow a sentimental farewell. The 30-year-old light-middleweight, who carried the Welsh flag at the opening ceremony, says these Games will likely be her last tournament as she plans to retire afterward.

Eccles has already won two Commonwealth medals and competed in an Olympic Games. After winning gold in Birmingham, she now aims to become the first boxer to retain the Commonwealth title in her category. “Nobody has retained that title so it's a little bit of history for me,” she said.

She joined the Welsh Boxing programme at 18 while studying at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Though initially driven by Olympic dreams, the Commonwealths became her true passion. “It's that sense of home, of Wales and representing your nation,” she explained.

Her coach, Colin Jones – the youngest British boxer to compete at the Olympics in 1976 – praised her resilience, especially after a serious knee injury and surgery that threatened her career. “Rosie is the type of person who will never lay down to anything that gets in her way,” said Jones.

Eccles admits she did not achieve her ultimate goal of Olympic gold, but she is proud of the way she pursued her career. “I wanted to set an example for my nephews and nieces to always push back when things are hard,” she said. “In terms of effort and dedication, I know there's nothing more I could have done.”