Just when it would have been reasonable to be of the opinion that the most intricate and complex element of elite gymnastics was, (and not without a level of tragic irony given the circumstances), a world medal winning bar routine, this quad, and particularly its final twelve months have thrown unprecedented complexity at the process of qualifying an Olympic team, with heavy and far reaching consequences for so many who have played no part at all in the decision making process that delivered them to their current circumstances. This is a world wide situation, but as this is a British b ..read more

Celebrating Team Tokyo  Clockwise from top left: Jennifer Gadirova, Jessica Gadirova, Alice Kinsella, Amelie Morgan.   At 2pm  Monday 7th of June, British Gymnastics announced their team for the 2020ne Tokyo Olympic Games. A selection process like no other, following a year like no other meant that the ever rife speculation of who would make this team was even more heated and heightened than usual. Interrupted training due to global pandemic, Injuries, and family tragedy all played their part. No English Championships, no British Championships, a decimated World Cup schedule, a ..read more

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels as though March was both a life time, and just a few weeks ago all at once. In some ways it has seemed forever since the competitions stopped, the gym doors locked, and home training began. Whilst it has been so impressive to watch how hard everyone has been training at home, in terms of actual gymnastics, its been a long slog for everyone since excitement at the imminent domestic and international competition season being upon us, turned to shock and disbelief as one by one events were cancelled, then resignation and stoicism at the challenge ahead ..read more

  It was a question of when, not if. Sometimes there needs to be a catalyst, and I believe the trial and conviction of disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, jailed for the rest of his life for his decades of heinous sexual abuse against young American athletes proved to be just that. Hundreds of girls and young women who had previously had no voice, found theirs. Internal wounds of trauma, rage and shame wrestled with for years; poured out as one by one their courage roared into life. One by one, by one, and a movement gathered momentum, ensuring Larry Nassar will ..read more

As a Tokyo squad member, The Academy’s Amelie Morgan is already back in the gym, but soon many of you will be able to join her! In what will likely be one of my shortest posts ever, the government have just announced that indoor gyms may open in England from the 25th of July, and Northern Ireland from the 17th. In Scotland, the wait will be a little longer, they are in a category marked ‘After 31st of July’ but we have seen that Scotland are holding back roughly a couple of weeks from England in general in terms of opening things back up again, so hopefully not too long to go. No news as yet ..read more

  At posting, the majority of gyms remain under lockdown whilst the fight with COVID-19 continues. The gym doors across the UK remain firmly closed for all other than those on the Tokyo Olympic selection squad, as we wait for it to be safe to open them once more. As it is difficult just for now to look forward with any accuracy,  I thought it might be nice to look back a little while we wait. In this first of a planned series of look back posts, British AA Champions. Those that paved the way for the senior GB gymnasts of today, who we look forward so much to seeing out there once mo ..read more

The weekly feature for those that don’t follow all of the social media accounts attached to the blog, or have missed the odd post.  A look at the goings on over the last week in British WAG. Well, the this is the week that the implications of the COVID-19 Corona Virus really began to hit gymnastics hard. The Doha Apparatus World Cup due to be held 18th-21-st of March has been postponed, with the planned rescheduling due to take place 3rd-6th of June. Saphire’s Ondine Achampong and Greenwhich Royals’ Halle Hilton were due to attend, where Halle would have made her senior debut. The Stuttgart ..read more

  The weekly feature for those that don’t follow all of the social media accounts attached the blog, or have missed the odd post.  A look at the goings on over the last week in British WAG. Becky Downie in full swing, training for the start of her competition season. We don’t know as yet how may pieces we will see her on this year, she is training AA, but of course bars remain her priority as she aims for that Olympic spot, and a chance to claim a medal. British Compulsory one champion Tiegan Trafford of Abingdon has qualified for her first British Espoir Championships, and has of course now ..read more

The first of the four 2020 AA World Cup events took place today, the American Cup held in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and another senior debut for British Gymnastics. Step forward Jennifer Gadirova of Aylesbury Gymnastics Academy. Jennifer came in as a replacement for Amelie Morgan who we look forward to seeing shortly when her wrist is fully recovered. Jennifer’s trajectory has been incredibly impressive over this past year. Along with twin sister Jessica, she has always been a beautiful gymnast to watch, and over the past 12 months has joined the ranks of promising rising youngsters looking to ma ..read more