Josh Stacey knows his grandfather would have been proud of him - not just for his Commonwealth gold medal, but for the nine-year journey it took him to get there.
Stacey won gold in the men’s singles para classes 8-10 at the NEC in Birmingham, leading the way for Wales’ best ever finish in table tennis at a Commonwealth Games.
Josh overcame Australia’s Lin Ma in the final, in a category for players with moderate to mild physical impairment.
The Cardiff-born athlete was delighted to win the gold after claiming bronze at his first Games on the Gold Coast of Australia in 2018.
It has been a long and winding road for the 22-year-old, who picked up the sport at the age of 13. His emotion at winning at the end was clear for everyone to see.
On wrapping himself in the Welsh flag on court at the end, looking at his friends and family in the stands, Josh said: "My grandfather passed away in April. This was for him!
“It is something you dream of. I am so thankful for all the support I have had, it has been incredible.”
It was by chance that a taster session put on at his school helped Josh fall in love with table tennis, the open door that enabled him to go on to become one of the best players in the world.
