Star Gymnasts
We are delighted to have a number of high-performance gymnasts in a number of gymnastics disciplines. To find details about what motivates them, their tips for other younger gymnasts, their top achievements, aspirations for the future and much more please click on their individual profiles.
If you are a member of the press or media and would like to find out more about our gymnasts please contact us on 0845 045 4304.
Grant Gardiner
|
Name |
Grant Gardiner |
|
DOB |
15th August 1991 |
|
Club |
Woking Gymnastics Club |
|
Discipline |
Men’s Artistic |
|
Achievements to date
|
2010 Commonwealth Games, 11th all around, 7th on vault Northern European Champion- all around, vault and Pbars, 2nd on floor, 3rd on high bar |
|
Top achievement to date |
Well, both of the above really. Both of them were great experiences for me |
|
Aspirations for the future |
2014 Commonwealth Games- my aim is to medal on anything. |
|
Best Memory |
Too many. Gym has given me a lot of great experiences. |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Got to be Nemov. His style and accuracy in all his skills are amazing. He does make it look too easy though, when it’s really not. But I admire most top athletes because I know how hard they have to work to get to where they are in their sport. |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts |
Work hard when you are young especially on your basics. They are the most important skills when it comes to being a top gymnast. |
|
Other interests |
Coaching and chilling are all I have time for really. |
Francesca Jones
|
Name |
Francesca Jones |
|
Date Of Birth |
09/11/1990 |
|
Club |
City of Birmingham |
|
Disciplines |
Rhythmic gymnastics |
|
Achievements to date |
Worlds, Europeans, Commonwealths, 5 times British Champion |
|
Top achievement to date |
Silver at Commonwealth Games 2010 |
|
Aspirations for the future |
Compete in the 2012 Olympics |
|
Best memory |
Commonwealths 2010 |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why?) |
Anyone dedicated to their sport inspires me! |
|
Advice and top tips for young aspiring gymnasts |
Never give up. Hard work pays off. |
|
Other interests |
Family, Friends, |
Laura Halford
|
Name |
Laura Halford |
|
Date Of Birth |
25/02/96 |
|
Club |
Esprit |
|
Disciplines |
Rhythmic Gymnastics |
|
Achievements to date |
4 times British Champion 4 times Welsh Champion Welsh and British squad member Junior Europeans 2010 |
|
Top achievement to date |
Junior Welsh Champion 2011 Junior British Champion 2011 |
|
Aspirations for the future |
Commonwealth games 2014 |
|
Best memory |
Being selected for the Welsh and British squad for the first time. |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why?) |
Anna Bessonova because she is so exciting to watch and her performances are always so interesting. |
|
Advice and top tips for young aspiring gymnasts |
Never give up, even if training is hard, and put all your effort in every day. |
|
Other interests |
Shopping |
Sophie Lewis
|
Name |
Sophie Lewis |
|
DOB |
11/12/93 |
|
Club |
Edgbarrow Trampoline Club |
|
Discipline |
Trampoline |
|
Achievements to date
|
Loule Cup (Portugal) junior winner 2007 (representing Wales), 2008 & 2009 Friendship Cup (Czech) junior winner 2009 (representing Wales) European junior team silver medallist 2010 Runner up British Champion 2010 FIG B under 19s 6th in FIG A seniors at British Championships 2011 |
|
Top achievement to date |
WAGC silver medal in age 17-18 Synchro 2010 |
|
Aspirations for the future |
Senior team selections, World Championships and Olympics |
|
Best Memory
|
Winning my first international in individual and synchronised at Loule cup Portugal 2007 |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Irina Karavaeva because she has a really nice style in the air |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts |
Be confident and always push yourself to achieve what you know you can do! |
|
Other interests |
Travelling and sports science |
Kayleigh Elizabeth Silva
|
Name |
Kayleigh Elizabeth Silva |
|
Date Of Birth |
31/12/1995 |
|
Club |
Martine's Action Pack |
|
Disciplines |
Aerobic Gymnastics |
|
Achievements to date |
Currently ranked 1st in Great Britain Age group 2: 15-17 Category. Qualified 2nd in French Aerobic Open Championships 2011 Qualified 1st in Slovak open 2011 1st in welsh open and closed Championships 2011 2nd in British Championships 2010 3rd in Plodiv Open in Bulgaria 2010 1st in Las Vegas in a group performance 2008 2nd in French open Group performance 2008 3rd Slovak open 2008 Welsh Gymnast of the year 2009 3rd in Las Vegas 2009 Most promising Welsh Gymnast of the year 2006 |
|
Top achievement to date |
Winning the Welsh open championships with my highest score of the year so far 19.100 |
|
Aspirations for the future |
To compete against the best gymnasts around the world, continuously developing as an athlete and as a person becoming a permanent representative for the Great Britain Team To have good achievements in all Britain and international competitions, hopefully compete in the Europeans this year and worlds in 2012. |
|
Best memory |
Team spirit whilst travelling with the GB squad |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why?) |
Jessica Ennis, an outstanding athlete that has the dedication to master so many events and be a winner. |
|
Advice and top tips for young aspiring gymnasts |
To enjoy the experience of gymnastics, train hard for you to be able to achieve the results you want. |
|
Other interests |
I'm also interested in running and swimming but I enjoying spending time with my family and friends. |
Zara Hall
|
Name |
Zara Hall |
|
DOB |
23-10-93 |
|
Club |
Maesteg Trampoline Club |
|
Discipline |
Trampolining |
|
Achievements to date
|
Represented GB at GB v Germany finished 2nd 2010 3rd 2009 “ GB at Four Nations “ GB at World Age Games finished 13th 2010 “ Wales at Home Nations Finished 4th in Senior Comp and 1st sync |
|
Top achievement to date |
1st at Age group and Senior competition Welsh Nationals 2010 |
|
Aspirations for the future |
Continue to represent GB and Wales. |
|
Best Memory |
Representing GB at World Age Games 2010 |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Beth Tweddle. She has remained at the top for a number of years and has had great achievements. |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts |
Never give up. Be positive! |
|
Other interests |
|
Lizzie Beddoe
|
Name |
Lizzie Beddoe |
|
DOB |
09/03/95 |
|
Club
|
Cardiff Central Youth Club Train in Sophia Gardens |
|
Discipline |
Artistic Gymnastics |
|
Achievements to date
|
British squad member since age 9. Northern Europeans 2007, Apparatus finals - 1st on Bars, Beam and Floor Celtic Cup Champion 2007 Uk School Games Champion 2008, Apparatus finals: 1st Bars, Beam and 2nd on Floor. Uk School Games 2009 - Team 1st, Individual 2nd. GB vs. Switzerland 2009 - Team GB 1st, individual 1st. British Championships 2010 - 5th Overall British Championships 2011 - 6th Overall, Apparatus finals: 4th Beam, 5th Bars (first year as a senior gymnast) |
|
Top achievement to date
|
British Champion 2004,2005,2006,2008 Been in the top 6 of the British Championships from aged 9-16 (a senior) |
|
Aspirations for the future
|
Keep on training as hard as I can and hopefully to stay injury free J It would be amazing to go to the 2012 London Olympics however my main aim for the future is the 2014 Commonwealth games. |
|
Best Memory
|
Team Wales winning the UK School Games 2009 in Cardiff for the first time to England. It was the last year I was eligible to compete as I was too old the following year. |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Nastia Liukin, (2008 Olympic All round champion) Because she is so elegant and beautiful to watch. She is great on every piece of apparatus and makes everything she does look so easy. |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts
|
Make sure you enjoy yourself when you’re in the gym as it helps you stay motivated. Always try your best to be as strong a gymnast as possible. Everyone has set backs but remember things usually get better. |
|
Other interests |
Going out shopping and to the cinema with friends. Also enjoy cooking at home, or trying to! |
Clinton Purnell
|
Name |
Clinton Purnell |
|
DOB |
05.05.89 |
|
Club |
Barry YMCA |
|
Discipline |
Men's Artistic |
|
Achievements to date |
Welsh u18's and Senior Champion, British Club NDP Junior Champion, North European Gold Medallist, Commonwealth games finalist 2010, GB Selection for World Universaire China 2011, |
|
Top achievement to date |
Welsh Champion 2011 and Selection for GB Team. |
|
Aspirations for the future |
Want to do my Grandad and Gramps proud in the Glasgow Commonwealths. |
|
Best Memory |
Gaining gold, silver and bronze medals in Iceland north Euros and a team bronze and then going to the Blue Lagoon to celebrate :) |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Frankie Jones because she is doing Wales proud as an amazing rhythmic gymnast, and she's and really flexible, I wish I was more flexible because I'd be a better gymnast. Danny Purvis is my fave male gymnast because he is totally sound, a great example of a dedicated gymnast and a pure Celtic beast. |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts |
Eat your greens they really do work! |
|
Other interests |
I like playing music, going to festivals and gigging in my spare time. |
Mathew Hennessey
|
Name |
Matt Hennessey |
|
DOB |
4/4/1990 |
|
Club |
Loughborough |
|
Discipline |
Men’s Artistic |
|
Achievements to date |
Team 1st, All Around 2nd, Floor 1st and Parallel bars 3rd - 2009 Northern Europeans Member of 2010 Commonwealth team - 5th place, All Around Final 16th Place Member of 2011 World Student Games team for GBR |
|
Top achievement to date |
being a member of 2010 Commonwealth Games team |
|
Aspirations for the future |
Go to 2013 World students games for GBR
Go to 2014 Commonwealth games |
|
Best Memory |
Competing in Team and All Around finals in Delhi 2010 |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Favourite gymnast - Ivan Ivankov
Sporting Hero - David Beckham because he is an excellent role model and shows amazing dedication to training and playing to the best he possibly can at all times. |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts |
Train hard and always focus on the goals you want to achieve and you will achieve them. |
|
Other interests |
Football, Athletics, music, watching television and eating nice food |
Angel Romaeo
|
Name |
Angel Romaeo |
|
DOB |
14/8/97 |
|
Club |
Cardiff Central youth club |
|
Discipline |
Women’s artistic gymnastics |
|
Achievements to date
|
3 times British champion Welsh champion 2nd place Celtic cup 2nd place UK School Games 1st on beam and floor in the Northern Europeans Finland 1st in Belgium and Germany representing GB |
|
Top achievement to date |
Being selected to compete in the European youth Olympic festival |
|
Aspirations for the future |
To medal at an Olympic Games, world games and Commonwealth Games |
|
Best Memory |
Doing well in Canada |
|
Favourite gymnast or sporting hero (and why) |
Nastia Lukin because she’s an Olympic champion and i want to be like her |
|
Advice and top tips for aspiring young gymnasts |
Stay positive, stay focused and never give up |
|
Other interests |
Playing cards and badminton and dancing |
Raer Theaker
Jessica Hogg
Harry Owen
Jemma Bowie-Hallam
