In praise of a movement for every girl who dares to dream

18-year-old Team Wales para-athlete Mia Lloyd from Penparc, Ceredigion, has represented Wales in international competition and works to amplify the voices of disabled athletes across the country. Here, she explains why #FelMerch matters

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Mia Lloyd in action

WHEN I first heard about Urdd Gobaith Cymru's #FelMerch youth sports conference, I felt something shift.

Not just in me, but in the wider conversation about girls in sport in Wales.

This wasn't just another event - it’s a movement, a space where young women and girls can see themselves reflected and respected in the world of sport.

Tomorrow at Cardiff City Stadium, the Urdd hosts its third major sports conference specifically for girls and young women.

In both our national languages with an agenda deliberately designed to attract new Welsh speakers and learners, #FelMerch (translated “Like a Girl’) will give young women an opportunity to gather and be inspired by some amazing women who've carved out their own careers in sport.

I'm really looking forward to sharing the stage with a stellar lineup of guest speakers such as head coach of the Cymru Football Team Rhian Wilkinson, gold-medal-winning boxer Rosie Eccles and Ela Letton-Jones, who won silver at the World Para Swimming Championships 2025 in Singapore.

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing my story to show others just how much can be achieved through sports and determination, and how important it is to take every opportunity in life.

I’ve always been sporty, ever since I was a little girl, but my life changed before by 10th birthday when I began limping with pain in my left knee.