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Olympic heroes to star on new wall of fame after medal-winning performances in Tokyo

News, Sport | Rhys Williams | Published: 15:23, Wednesday August 11th, 2021.
Last updated: 15:23, Wednesday August 11th, 2021

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Lauren Price and Lauren Williams will represent Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics
Lauren Price and Lauren Williams both won medals for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics

Olympic heroes Lauren Price and Lauren Williams are set to grace a new ‘wall of fame’ after their medal-winning performances in Tokyo.

The wall of fame will be unveiled at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach, the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced.

Both gold-medallist Price and silver-medallist Williams will be invited to the unveiling of the wall of fame, which is in the process of being created.

The date of the unveiling is yet to be confirmed, but council leader Philippa Marsden confirmed venues and landmarks across the borough would be lit up to mark the occasion.

After the unveiling, a book of commemoration will open at the centre, where residents can write messages to the Olympians, who will keep the books afterwards.

Meanwhile, artwork depicting both Price and Williams will be put up on lampposts in their home towns of Ystrad Mynach and Blackwood respectively.


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Cllr Marsden is also said to be exploring options for a “largescale” county-wide celebration, with proposals set to be presented to councillors at the next full council meeting.

Caerphilly’s Labour Member of Parliament, Wayne David, and Senedd Member Hefin David, have written to the Royal Mail calling for a post box in Ystrad Mynach to be painted gold in homage to Price’.

Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru councillor Colin Mann has written to council leader Philippa Marsden calling for both Price and taekwondo silver-medallist Williams to be given the freedom of the county.

Elsewhere, Gelligaer Community Council, which covers Ystrad Mynach, will be painting a telephone box in the town gold to celebrate Price’s achievements.

In a council meeting on July 27, Cllr Marsden described the athletes as “an inspiration.”, while deputy council leader Jamie Pritchard has also praised the pair, describing them as “exemplary”.

How our Olympic heroes won their medals

Lauren Williams with her silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics
Lauren Williams with her silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics

Taekwondo star Lauren Price was the first of the two Olympians to earn their medals during the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The 22-year-old reached the final of the women’s -67kg women’s final, but fell short to Croatia’s Matea Jelic, narrowly losing 25-22 despite holding a lead into the dying moments of the contest.

The competition was held in Chiba, near Tokyo on Monday, July 26.

En route to the final, Williams beat Tonga’s Malia Paseka 11-0 in the last 16, before edging Hedaya Malak, of Egypt, 13-12 in the quarter-finals.

Williams then secured her place in the final after a 24-18 semi-final victory over Cote d’Ivoire’s Ruth Gbagbi.

Speaking after the final, Williams told the BBC: “It’s not enough, I had her, ten seconds, I just let it go. I made a mistake and let it go, it’s on me.

“I went out there to win and tried my best but it didn’t happen on the day. I am very happy with how I performed but it’s a shame she got it.

“An Olympic silver medal is not bad, is it?”

Ystrad Mynach's Lauren Price has won an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo
Ystrad Mynach’s Lauren Price won an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo

Following on from Williams’ success, Price won Olympic gold after a comprehensive 5-0 victory over China’s Li Qian in the women’s middleweight final on August 8.

Price, who attended Heolddu Comprehensive School in Bargoed, marked her Olympic debut on July 28 with a 5-0 win over Mongolia’s Myagmarjargal Munkhbat in the last 16, before beating Panama’s Atheyna Bylon 5-0 on Saturday, July 31 to reach the semi-finals.

At the semi-final stage, she beat Nouchka Fontijn, of the Netherlands, on a split decision to reach the final.

Price was given a hero’s welcome as she returned to Ystrad Mynach on Tuesday, August 10.

Crowds adorned Penallta Road on Tuesday, August 10, waving Welsh flags to welcome back an emotional Price – who stopped for photos with residents young and old.

Lauren Price received a hero's welcome as she returned to Ystrad Mynach as an Olympic gold-medallist
Lauren Price received a hero’s welcome as she returned to Ystrad Mynach as an Olympic gold-medallist

Upon arrival, Price was greeted by her grandmother, Linda.

Price dedicated her victory to her grandmother and late grandfather Derek, who passed away in November.

As a baby, Price was taken in and raised by her grandparents.

She told the BBC: “I can’t really put into words what they’ve done for me over the years, I just love them both so much.

“Big shout out to my nan, I can’t wait to see her and show my medal off.”

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GB Boxing/GB Taekwondo
Team GB
GB Boxing
Phil Morris

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