Emma Finucane sits low on her bike, barely moving, and somehow that stillness makes her unstoppable.
The 23-year-old Welsh cyclist left the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this week having won four gold medals, making her both the most successful cyclist at the entire event and Wales' most decorated female athlete in Commonwealth Games history. But it was the way she rode that had everyone else in the sport shaking their heads.
Watching her, two-time Commonwealth champion Katherine Bates said you could balance a teacup on her back and it would not spill. She compared Finucane to a combination of Anna Meares, Victoria Pendleton, and Kristina Vogel — three of the greatest female cyclists ever — all rolled into one person. "Some have incredible acceleration, others are very good at the back end of a long race," Bates explained. "She's got excellent skills, acceleration and really good staying power, so it makes her a triple threat."
Finucane's smooth style took years of training to develop. She has taught herself to ride in an extremely low position that is physically demanding but pays off when races get fast. Former Great Britain teammate and Paralympic gold medalist Jenny Holl said Finucane looks like she and her bike are one. "She never looks like she's fighting with it and, for me, that's the biggest difference," Holl said. "That fluidity seems to give her that extra gear."
The numbers back up the praise. In the women's 1km time trial, while most competitors used specialized time-trial handlebars, Finucane chose regular drop handlebars. She still won easily. Four golds total across the track events.
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow clearly mattered deeply to her. She is already a world champion and an Olympic gold medalist — that gold came in the team sprint at the Paris 2024 Games. But the bronze medals she took in Paris, in the individual sprint and keirin, left her hungry. Holl said those near-misses gave Finucane extra motivation. "She was a brilliant athlete in Paris, but now we really are seeing something special."
Bates also noted Finucane's remarkable composure under pressure. "She barely even cracks a smile until it's over," Bates said. "That's part of how she prepares. She maintains that focus and when it's over, she releases the pressure valve and moves on."
Two years out from the next Olympics, Bates offered a striking assessment of Finucane's dominance. "A lot of the countries are looking at her and thinking, 'Is it even worth trying to beat her? Or are we going there for a silver medal?'" she admitted. "That's a big statement two years out, but that's the kind of talent we're looking at."
For those who know the sport best, the four golds in Glasgow may have been only a preview.