Wales’ Francesca Jones admitted it was a dream finale as she brought her glittering rhythmic gymnastics career to a close with the Commonwealth Games individual ribbon title.
Jones, who represented Great Britain at London 2012, announced prior to the Games that the competition would be her last before retirement.
And she made sure to go out with a bang, picking up six medals in total across the rhythmic gymnastics program including Wales’ first gold medal of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
First up was team silver on day one before she added four further second-place finishes in the individual all-around final, individual hoop final, clubs event and individual ball final.
The latter three all came on Saturday shortly before the six-time British champion then climbed top spot on the medal rostrum with a score of 14.500 in the individual ribbon final.
It saw her edge out Malaysia’s Wong Poh San and Canada’s Patricia Bezzoubenko, leaving the 23-year-old emotional during the medal ceremony.
“I was trying so hard not to cry when the Welsh flag was raised,” said Jones, who took hoop silver in Delhi four years ago.
“With the final ribbon routine I had no nerves I just knew that I wanted the last ever performance to be special and to enjoy and savour it and that worked.
“It’s amazing to end a career in such a special way, I couldn’t ask for any more than to enjoy my last routine and to win the gold medal, it’s an absolute dream.”
© Sportsbeat 2014