Daniel Salmon – the most decorated decorator in Cardiff!
When Birmingham 2022 is over, Wales’ victorious lawn bowler Daniel Salmon will return to his day job painting walls and ceilings as the most decorated decorator in Cardiff.
After brushing aside England to win his second consecutive Commonwealth Games title in the men’s pairs on Tuesday, Salmon equalled the record for Games gold medals by any lawn bowler for Wales, matching his team manager in Birmingham, Robert Weale.
Salmon said claiming titles back to back was beyond his wildest dreams but admits the Games and the medals are a different world to the quiet life he cherishes at home just outside his native Cardiff with his girlfriend, his dog Sonny, and his brushes and rollers.
He started his business three years ago with a friend, after working in the trade previously. “We thought we’d give it a crack on our own,” Salmon said. “It’s going really well, and we’ve got loads and loads of work on.”
Not that many of his customers know their homes are being decorated by a Commonwealth champion.
“My mate mentions it to customers,” Salmon said. “And they say, ‘bloody hell, that’s mad’, but I don’t really talk much about it. If people want to ask I’ll tell them about it, and I’m happy to speak about it for ages because it’s amazing. But I just like to keep myself to myself.”
Weale has known of Salmon’s bowling talents from a young age, and believes the 28-year-old is primed for more.
The team manager won his two golds 24 years apart, in the fours at Edinburgh 1986, and in the singles at Delhi 2010, as part of a total Games medal haul of six.
He was delighted for his record to be equalled. “I told Dan that after the game,” Weale said. “It’s folklore in Welsh bowls, and I said to him, ‘join the club’. Dan has the chance to go and achieve more success, and get another gold over the next couple of years.
“Bowls isn’t everything, but Dan has the talent to stay around in the game and with application I’m sure he could go on and achieve more.”
Whether the decorator goes on to become more decorated or not, adding to his golden collection at Birmingham 2022 is more than enough reason for him to return to Wales and paint the town red, or any other colour you want.
[Article provided by Games News Service]
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