Ruth Swinhoe
Field
The first Welsh female track and field athlete to win a medal at a major games (Commonwealth bronze, long jump, 1974). The first Welshwoman to compete at the Olympic Games (Munich 1972). Her personal best of 6.54m remains second-best by a Welsh woman.
Biography
Ruth Swinhoe (previously Martin Jones and Howell) was born in Criccieth and made history as the first Welsh female track and field athlete to win a medal at a major games, capturing bronze in the long jump at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games with a jump of 6.38m.
She had also made history as the first Welshwoman to compete at the Olympic Games, representing Britain at the Munich 1972 Olympics. She went on to compete at three consecutive Commonwealth Games (Edinburgh, Christchurch, Edmonton) and represented Great Britain 25 times.
Swinhoe held Welsh records in the long jump, high jump, 100m hurdles, and pentathlon/heptathlon. Her personal best of 6.54m in the long jump remains the second-best jump ever by a Welsh woman after more than four decades.