Rwandan star runner Florence Niyonkuru has described her historic bronze medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as a major source of motivation to reach even greater heights in her athletics career.

The 25-year-old made history on Monday bywinning bronze in the women’s 10,000m final, securing Rwanda’s first-ever Commonwealth Games medal since the country made its debut at the multi-sport event.

Competing against some of the world’s finest long-distance runners, Niyonkuru crossed the finish line in 31:55.47 to claim a place on the podium behind Australia’s Rose Davies, who won gold in 31:39.32, and Kenya’s Diana Wanza, who took silver.

Reflecting on her historic achievement, Niyonkuru said the medal had inspired her to work even harder and continue improving.

"This is my first Commonwealth Games competition, but I feel highly motivated and want to work hard to reach a higher level,” Niyonkuru said.

"I am committed to working harder and improving my skills every day. My goal is to become a better athlete and, one day, be among the very best.”

The Rwandan long-distance runner described the achievement as an important milestone in her career and a stepping stone towards bigger ambitions.

"This competition is an important step in my journey and a great source of motivation for me as I continue striving for success in the future,” she added.

Niyonkuru’s podium finish caps a remarkable season in which she has continued to make her mark on the international stage.

Earlier this year, she impressed at the African Championships, further underlining her emergence as one of Rwanda’s leading athletics talents.

With a Commonwealth Games medal now added to her résumé, Niyonkuru believes her journey is only beginning.

"This is a great journey for me, and it motivates me to keep pushing myself and chasing even bigger goals in the future,” she said.