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GYMNAST DIGITAL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2016

LAURA HALFORD IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN! THE 2016 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

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BRITISH GYMNASTICS LAURA HALFORD 6 10 FOUNDATION

SPRING INTO MILANO, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL 14 24 ACTION 28 20 YEARS

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PREMIUM CHUNKY CHALK &CHALK BALL GET IT NOWATWWW.ELITEGYMNASTICS.CO.UK THE GYMNAST | 5 INTERVIEW LAURA HALFORD

LAURA HALFORD The pursuit of gymnastics perfection can take years of dedication and in some cases some big sacrifices and life choices need to be made. For British rhythmic champion Laura Halford, already well-established as our number one gymnast, the desire to keep improving led her to make the decision to move away from home to enable her to continue to progress.

We caught up with Laura in Cardiff – her adopted home – to find out why she’s decided to take the step into training full time, how the move has affected her and what improvements she feels she is making.

LAURA’S 2015 British all-around champion CV

2014 Commonwealth Games (Team Wales) team silver, all-around bronze and ball bronze

2014 British all-around champion

2013 British all-around champion

2011 Junior British all-around champion

6 | THE GYMNAST LAURA HALFORD INTERVIEW

LAURA, WHEN AND WHY DID YOU four or five hours of routine work. Some days DECIDE TO MAKE THE BIG MOVE TO – especially Thursday for some reason – I have CARDIFF? off days and you think “can I really do this again tomorrow” .. but of course I do. I think about all “I moved to Cardiff in September 2015, partly the amazing experiences I’ve had, the things I’ve for university and partly for the rhythmic achieved and how hard I had to work for them. programme in place here. I now live with five I know that every hour in the gym counts and other rhythmic gymnasts, we train twice a so you push through to the next day and start day and benefit from amazing facilities and again.” support whether it be coaches, physiotherapy, nutritionist or strength and conditioning. It’s AND MOST IMPORTANTLY DO YOU definitely been for the best, to train full time THINK IT’S MAKING A DIFFERENCE has made a huge difference and the move - TO YOUR ROUTINES? although a big decision - was the best I’ve ever made I think.” “Yes, I think I’ve already improved a lot as a gymnast as I’m getting a lot more work done on HOW BIG A CHANGE WAS IT TO the floor. Having a structure to the week with TRAIN FULL TIME? ballet and strength and conditioning sessions has made me stronger which of course benefits “Starting training full time was definitely a my routines. I feel like my routines are much shock to the system! The first week I thought ‘oh more consistent and working full time with this is nice’ but after that I got very tired! Now the same coaching team and support staff I’m into a rhythm and we have worked to adapt has enabled that to happen. I try and treat all my programme and recovery so thankfully it’s my routines and all apparatus the same, each working much better. Training can be hard routine has something special for me with an work of course. Every morning we start with aspect that I love so I train them all equally. ballet for an hour and twice a week strength Overall I’m aiming for more consistent and conditioning, and then we follow up with performances; I’ve got personal best scores

THE GYMNAST | 7 INTERVIEW LAURA HALFORD

in competition this year and want to continue that over the year, keep getting better and better scores.“

HOW IS THE HOUSE SHARE GOING?

“Away from training, eight of us live together, four rhythmic girls and four artistic girls in a shared house just next to the national centre. We have a “house parent” who looks after us which is amazing, especially for the younger ones. It again is something that’s been put in place to benefit ultimately our gymnastics as she helps to manage our time. It can something feel like it’s hard to escape from gymnastics living with gymnasts but it’s not too bad! We bond very much as teammates and all know another well and how to motivate each other.”

WHAT ARE THE AIMS GOING FORWARD AND HOW MUCH ARE THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES ALREADY ON YOUR MIND AFTER THE AMAZING EXPERIENCES IN GLASGOW?

“The British Championships is definitely one of the biggest competitions this year with there not being a World Championships. I really want to do well in that and try and retain my title, it’s always a great Experience in such a big arena so I can’t wait to be there.

Of course for many of us the long term aim is the I KNOW THAT 2018 Commonwealth Games. The effect that our EVERY HOUR IN performances at Glasgow 2014 had has been huge THE GYM COUNTS for rhythmic gymnastics. I get lots of messages AND SO YOU PUSH on social media, we have lots of new faces YOURSELF TO THE trying rhythmic gymnastics and even new clubs NEXT DAY AND starting so to know that part of that is from our START AGAIN performances at the Games make us all very proud. I’m aware that some people will look up to me which can be hard. When I’m having a tough day in the gym I know I need to act properly and keep working hard, Frankie Jones was good support to me and was a fantastic role model and I want to continue that.” n

8 | THE GYMNAST LAURA HALFORD INTERVIEW

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THE GYMNAST | 9 FEATURE BG FOUNDATION

BRITISH GYMNASTICS FOUNDATION CHARITY

Nearly two years since the British Gymnastics between March 2015 and March 2016 the Foundation was set up, a lot has happened. Foundation received 100 grant applications Aiming to create opportunities through and awarded 49 hardship grants totalling gymnastics, by bringing improvements to nearly £20,000. the lives of people and communities most in need, the charity has been making a Patrick Bonner, British Gymnastics Foundation difference to ensure the benefits of the sport Manager, is delighted with the progress the are connected with those who need it. charity has made in such a short space of time: “From our first meeting back in June Founded in June 2014, the Foundation has a 2014, we have come a very long way already. number of areas where they continue to try We have a very forward thinking Board of and make a change for the better. Trustees that has driven the work of the Foundation. In addition we have grown the One of those areas is assisting people who number of partnerships we connect with are going through financial hardship. The which has enabled us as a charity to achieve Hardship Grants Programme was their first far more.” initiative and continues to benefit British Gymnastics members around the UK. In fact, The Foundation is also committed to working

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in schools in the most deprived areas of the it has been completely state funded and is in UK - enabling more children to benefit from every care home in Japan. gymnastics, regardless of socio-economic background – and a community programme, “We’re currently running a pilot test where they give inspirational gymnastics programme to determine the benefits of experiences, host leadership courses the activity for residents of care homes and and deliver gymnastics classes to help in attendees in day centres in Britain; and just communities that struggle. four months into the pilot, the research conducted by Age UK is showing that the Their inspirational experiences programme programme is having an amazing and in gave Kendal Gymnastics Club (link to story/ some cases life-changing effect on the case study on website) a huge boost following programme’s participants. the Cumbrian floods that affected them so badly at the end of last year. Gymnasts from “We have a fantastic amount of support from the club were given the once in a lifetime British Gymnastics which has helped us to opportunity to travel to Lilleshall and spend develop and progress. From our website, to an afternoon watching the British Gymnastics the launch of social media accounts to the women’s artistic team train. many life-changing programmes which we now deliver, I can certainly see that although The charity also supports disabled people, to our journey has only just begun, we have make sure the sport is inclusive for all. This undoubtedly changed many people’s lives for was evident when they took Gym Challenge the better.” n to a special school in Wolverhampton, with over 100 children taking part across two days of coaching – culminating in a final inspirational day of Gym Challenge activity.

And Patrick is keen to create more success stories in the coming months: “We’ll continue to invest in the Hardship Grants Programme as well as setting up a new gymnastics leadership course to help people in extremely deprived areas to realise their aspirations of becoming involved in gymnastics; hopefully leading to long term volunteering or paid employment in gymnastics.

“Our really big programme in the coming year is the Age & Dementia Friendly Gymnastics To find out more, Programme. In 2014 we started working with visit the Foundation’s gymnastics experts from Japan who deliver website or for regular a similar programme in their country. Their updates, follow them on programme is considered so successful that Twitter @bgfoundation or like Facebook page.

THE GYMNAST | 11 12 | THE GYMNAST Cirque du Soleil® is seeking newtalent forits current shows,new creations and diverse projects.

ACROBATIC &ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS TRAMPOLINE –TUMBLING –OTHER SPORTS Apply now: CIRQUEDUSOLEIL.COM/JOBS

FACEBOOK.COM/CIRQUEDUSOLEILCASTING

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL WOWING THE WORLD

Many of you will have witnessed the incredible acrobatics, death defying gymnastics and mind blowing circus and theatre that is Cirque du Soleil.

The company which employs over 4,000 people from over 40 countries helps to bring aspects of our sport to a huge audience in numerous shows spanning the globe.

Look closely the next time you watch a show and you could recognise some of the acts and support staff.

Many of our top gymnasts are part of the Cirque cast, as they look to continue within the sport after their elite careers. One such gymnast who took that step is Beijing 2008 star Marissa King who recently starred in Amaluna at the Albert Hall. Alongside Marissa was top GB coach Chris Bowler, we caught up with both of them after the show to find out more about their journey into the “Circus of the Sun”.

14 | THE GYMNAST MARISSA KING CIRQUE DU SOLEIL INTERVIEW

MARISSA, TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR MOVE FROM OLYMPIAN TO CIRQUE DU SOLEIL PERFORMER.

“After my elite career as a gymnast I went to Florida in the Summer of 2009 to study and I started competing almost straight away. I competed for four years. I then transitioned out of collegiate gymnastics into Cirque. I knew I wanted to join Cirque. I saw a show in Macau in 2008 when the GB team went there for a pre- Olympic test event and that’s when I knew that was MARISSA KING something I wanted to do. I went on to audition in 2011 AT THE 2007 WORLD ARTISTIC but I finished my collegiate career as I knew going to CHAMPIONSHIPS university in Florida was such a big opportunity and I IN STUTTGART, couldn’t have stopped that half way through. I needed GERMANY to see that through and finish my degree. I actually continued training for a fifth year, took an internship, took a second degree. I took an extra year because I CHRIS BOWLER wanted to help with the team still after we won our first national championship. I wanted to do some student coaching to see if coaching was something I wanted to get into. I still travelled with the team, helped the assistant coach and also did my internship within media as media was the second degree I took. I also trained on the side, ready for Cirque. There were so many options and I wanted to see what I wanted to do after I graduated.”

FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW BIG THE UNIVERSITY GYMNASTICS SCENE IS OUT IN AMERICA, CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE?

“It’s very different because in elite gymnastics you have around three big competitions in a year whereas at NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) you can do sixteen competitions in four months and that’s something that it took me some time to get used to; the fact that we travelled and competed so much. It was an incredible experience because it’s different. It’s difficult in its own way. It’s slightly simplified routines with less skills but it’s all about perfection and performance. In some ways I don’t feel like to I got to be myself at competitions until then. At college in America I was really able to express myself. I had a

MARISSA KING THE GYMNAST | 15 INTERVIEW CIRQUE DU SOLEIL great collegiate career and being part of the team in Florida that won our first national championship was a great moment and a really big deal.”

SO HOW DID YOU THEN GET INTO CIRQUE?

“I saw my first show in 2008 like I said and from then it was something I wanted to do. I knew some other GB trampoline and artistic gymnasts who had gone on to join Cirque and they really inspired me to pursue that. It was just a matter of when. Sometimes it can be difficult because there may be an opening with a show but a certain profile has to fit and that can take time. You might have to wait for a new show to go through creation for new openings to come up and even then they are figuring out exactly what acts they want and who might fit that. You have to get chosen from a pool of people they’ve chosen to look at. I kept putting myself out there. Every year at national championships we had scouts come and watch and I always connected with them.”

SO ONCE YOU WERE AT THE CIRQUE HEADQUARTERS IN MONTREAL, CANADA, WHAT WAS THE PROCESS FROM DAY ONE THROUGH TO SHOW ONE?

“My formation was quite quick. They wanted the show to be on tour soon. I had to adapt because the set up is very different. Amaluna involves an asymmetric bar routine but the low bar is slightly higher and the stage revolves. I had to explore the structure of the apparatus once I got there and develop and understanding of the show, who your character is and what your role is within the show. Going to HQ was really insightful and a really good stepping stone to see what the journey I was starting was all about. It was a perfect introduction and preparation phase.”

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FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN AMALUNA, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SHOW AND YOUR ROLE WITHIN IT?

“It tells the story of a girl coming of age, a washed up sailor she meets and falls in love with, and the challenges they face to be together. My character is one of the amazons, one of the protectors of the island. We’re the ones who keep everything in place. It’s our island and we are guarding it for our queen. We’re strong, we’re fierce and we need to be somewhat intimidating to the men when they arrive on the island. It’s always nice to have an intention on stage, remember how you are supposed to act and what your place is within the show. You need to keep with that every show, every day. Doing ten shows a week can be tiring and it’s hard work but you always work to get in character and stay within that mindset.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE TOURING WITH THE SHOW?

“It’s crazy we’ve been everywhere- Miami, Houston, Tarragona, Madrid, Belgium, Paris and now London. This is my seventh city. I’ve been on tour for a year but it still feels like I’m relatively new. When I watch videos of my performances back I still feel like there’s so much I can improve on.

The Royal Albert Hall is just the most amazing venue. When I tell people I’ve performed here they’re all impressed! Standing centre stage and looking out is an image I am never going to forget. It’s been overwhelming because so many people have wanted to come and see it. It was harder when we were in North America but it’s been easier since we’ve been in Europe and definitely lots more since we’ve been in London. It’s been an incredible opportunity and a great time to be home!”

THE GYMNAST | 17 INTERVIEW CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Chris, talk us through your background After being on ‘Totem’ for a few years I was within gymnastics coaching and then looking for something else and the opportunity your move into Cirque du Soleil. to get involved in the creation process for a new Cirque show came up. Toruk (based on James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’) has just started touring “I started as a gymnast. I was a decent the world and I spent a good few months in gymnast but I was by no means exceptional. Canada being involved in its creation process. I knew I’d reached my potential in my teens. That was great. It continued to broaden my From that point I needed to make a choice experiences and learn new acrobatic disciplines. and I chose my education. I went to university That led me to my position as an acrobatic and I studies sport and exercise science. I coach with the show ‘Amaluna.’ I was drawn to started coaching from the age fourteen. I the opportunity to go back to where I started, was with Woking Gymnastics Club, I was still tour Europe and be a coach for the show when training as a gymnast and I got into coaching. it came to London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’s a That led me to coach at other clubs like unique, prestigious venues. I was also very Basingstoke Gymnastics Club and I continued open to continuing my own experiences within to coach through my time at university. When the company and contribute to another show. I came out of uni I continued to work my ‘Amaluna’ is quite a new show and has been way up through the club system and I found through some changes and I was asked to assist myself at Pinewood Gymnastics Club. I carried in continuing to develop the acrobatic content.” on gaining my coaching qualifications to the point where I became a high performance coach and I was directing Pinewood. I did that HOW HAVE YOU FOUND MOVING for several years and I felt I achieved quite a THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT SHOWS; lot in that setting. I helped the club grow and AS HEAD COACH, TO A CREATION felt I was of integral support to the coaches PROCESS AND NOW ACROBATIC there who produced several regional, national COACH? WHICH ROLE PUSHED YOU and European champions across a number of THE MOST? disciplines. “They each had different challenges. When I joined ‘Totem’ I was fresh into the company. I I was looking for a new challenge. I originally went straight from a gymnastics club setting applied to Cirque du Soleil for a casting and competitive setting into the world of live position and they interviewed me. A couple entertainment. That transition at age 27 had of months later I got a call from them and challenges. I had to learn how to work with not it just so happened that their show ‘Totem’ gymnasts, but acrobats, artists and a whole was in London at the time.I went to visit the team. I wasn’t dealing with parents, coaches, show and caught up with the artistic director judges and committee members anymore. I and I ended up joining that show when it was dealing with lighting technicians, riggers, finished in London in early 2012. I toured the artistic teams, stage managers and lots of USA with that show as head coach. My main press. That was all new. I was part of a much purpose was to guide and support the artists larger team now. The company is huge. on a daily basis and help the development of Learning how to find my feet and direction as the acrobatic content, in line with the artistic head coach on ‘Totem’ took some time. I had to director and the original concept for that build relationships with everyone there. There show.

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DID YOU KNOW? Marissa isn’t the only GB Olympian currently touring in Amaluna by Cirque du Soleil, so is her Beijing teammate Imogen Cairns!

THE GYMNAST | 19 INTERVIEW CIRQUE DU SOLEIL were 18 different nationalities and I had to learn “I felt one of my main strengths was being able how to communicate with everyone. to communicate with all the different people, which I got from the club setting. One of the ‘Toruk’ was a completely different setting. We bigger challenges was learning about the weren’t touring. There was a whole array of new equipment. In a sense, from my original people put together working towards the goal of coaching career, yes, I knew how to coach a putting together this new, unique spectacle. One somersault, I had that underlying principle of of the challenges was the time constraint. When gymnastics and biomechanics and what it takes you’re delivering a new show you are given a few it to rotate and twist and tumble. Then, it was months. It came with its own challenges. The ‘what if you take someone who is hanging upside equipment was totally different. The stage was down?’ or taking it out of the norm and putting different. Learning how to work with it all and it on unique equipment. In the gymnastics manipulate the equipment to get the best out world you will often have one gymnast at a time of the performers was the real challenge. Part and on static apparatus that does not move of my role was to really motivate and stimulate and what happens in a performance is down the artists too. We had to keep them safe and to that gymnast. Then you go to Cirque and healthy during long days, six days per week.” an entertainment venue and suddenly you’re dealing with equipment that moves while the YOU’VE ESSENTIALLY SPENT YOUR artist is on it. In ‘Amaluna’ there is a turntable so LIFE ON TOUR FOR THE PAST FOUR the stage actually rotates while the artists are YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT working on the bars. I needed to know how that IT AND WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT equipment works to then be able to relate that BEING AWAY FROM HOME? back to what the artists do and get the best out of them. As a coach I got the skills set from the “Obviously I miss my friends and family. I’m quite club setting to break the acrobatic in the circus a family oriented person. I do miss my roots would down and understand them and tackle to an extent but the touring life is unique. You these new challenges.” live, work and socialise with the same people every day. It’s full on and it’s not for everyone. I WOULD YOU SAY THAT FOUR YEARS guess you either love it or hate it. I’ve been very WITH CIRQUE HAS DEVELOPED YOU fortunate to be able to travel the world and see AS A COACH? things that I probably never would have seen otherwise. The challenges of touring include “Absolutely. I think when I joined the company it simple things like you can’t buy a piece of nice put me out of my comfort zone for sure. I had to furniture you see and love for your home. You learn so much. Working with gymnasts at a high visit all these wonderful places but you can’t take level, we were used to peaking at competitions it all with you. You have to be selective in what just a few times a year. As a coach with Cirque I you tour with and you’re sort of living out of a have to manage the artists to perform ten shows suitcase. When you start to settle somewhere it’s a week, 300+ shows a year and try to put out the suddenly time to move on. Every place you go, same energy and the same level of performance you get to embrace the people and embrace the every single time because each audience culture.” deserves the same show. Trying to motivate the artists after they are tired is important. I have to WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED know them all as individuals so I know when to COACHING FOR CIRQUE, WHAT push, when to support, when to rotate certain SKILLS DID YOU WALK IN WITH? skills within an act to keep everyone safe. The

20 | THE GYMNAST CIRQUE DU SOLEIL INTERVIEW

MARISSA KING AT THE 2009 WORLD ARTISTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS - O2 ARENA

mental aspect of being a performer as opposed to a top competitive gymnast is different. They’re not training 30 hours a week anymore. They might only be training a few hours a week now and the time up on stage rehearsing on the equipment is limited. A lot of it is maintenance but I also need to look to the development of the acrobatic content so vary careful planning is needed by me so when each artist does have stage time they get the most out of it and everything they do is productive." n

Huge thanks to Matte Hart, 1066 Gymnastics Head Coach for conducting the interview!

THE GYMNAST | 21 FEATURE 2016 RIO OLYMPICS GYMNASTICS OLYMPIC SCHEDULE

The 2016 Olympic Games are just around the corner! Taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the 5th to 2st1 August, more than 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will take part in 28 sports across 33 venues.

Gymnastics events will take place in artistic, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics. We have qualified full men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics teams (5 per team) , two places for Team GB in the women’s trampoline event and one in the men’s event. The British gymnasts are now working hard aiming to make the teams through a series of trial events, training camps and competitions with the final line ups to be announced on the 12th July.

Your Autumn edition of Gymnast Magazine will have full reports of all the action, in the meantime here’s your must have schedule so you can keep up to date with all the Olympic action!

MEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS QUALIFICATIONS 6 AUGUST MEN’S [GB QUALIFICATION ] 14:30 - 17:00 18:30 - 21:00 22:30 - 01:00 FINALS 8 AUGUST MEN’S TEAM 20:00 - 23:00 10 AUGUST MEN’S INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 20:00 - 22:45 14 AUGUST MEN’S FLOOR EXERCISE 18:00 - 21:00 MEN’S POMMEL HORSE 15 AUGUST MEN’S RINGS 18:00 - 20:15 MEN’S VAULT 16 AUGUST MEN’S PARALLEL BARS 18:00 - 20:15 MEN’S HORIZONTAL BAR

WOMEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS QUALIFICATIONS 7 AUGUST WOMEN’S [GB QUALIFICATION ] 13:45 - 17:00 18:30 - 20:00 21:30 - 23:00 12:30 - 02:00 FINALS 9 AUGUST WOMEN’S TEAM 20:00 - 22:15 11 AUGUST WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 20:00 - 22:10 14 AUGUST WOMEN’S VAULT 18:00 - 21:00 WOMEN’S UNEVEN BARS 15 AUGUST WOMEN’S BALANCE BEAM 18:00 - 20:15 16 AUGUST WOMEN’S FLOOR EXERCISE 18:00 - 20:15

22 | THE GYMNAST 2016 RIO OLYMPICS FEATURE

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! POST YOUR MESSAGES USING #GOTeamGB GYMNASTS CHECK OUT WWW.BBC.CO.UK/SPORT TO WATCH ALL THE LIVE ACTION

TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS 12 AUGUST QUALIFICATIONS & FINALS WOMEN’S 18:00 - 20:15 13 AUGUST QUALIFICATIONS & FINALS MEN’S 18:00 - 20:15

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS QUALIFICATIONS 19 AUGUST INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 14:20 - 17:20 18:50 - 21:50 20 AUGUST GROUP 14:00 - 15:10 16:40 - 17:50

FINALS 20 AUGUST INDIVIDUAL ALL-AROUND 19:20 - 21:50 21 AUGUST GROUP 15:00 - 16:45

You will be able to keep up to date with all the latest news, event reports and photos from Rio on our special Rio 2016 Olympic event hub! www.british-gymnastics.org

UK TIMES SHOWN ALL COMPETITION SCHEDULES INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME FOR THE LATEST LISTINGS, SEE WWW.RIO2016.COM/EN

THE GYMNAST | 23 FEATURE SPRING INTO ACTION

Article from OnTrack SPRING www.ontrackmagazine.co.uk INTO ACTION Patrick Bonner, Disability Manager of British Gymnastics somersaults over his words as he enthusiastically discusses the inclusive world of Gymnastics.

On the surface, trampolines, springboards gymnastic disciplines. and ropes, might seem out of reach for someone with a disability, but British “Our philosophy is that the type of class a Gymnastics has become dedicated to disabled person participates in is completely ensuring that the sport is available to all, down to them as an individual. since they discovered in 2011 that disability gymnastics was seen as being inaccessible. “We educate our clubs and coaches into how to make sure they differentiate properly and “What we’ve done over the last four years they actually put in place the correct solutions in particular is to show the breadth of to properly integrate disabled people into opportunity that is available, so right from classes. There is an opportunity in dedicated the fundamentals, from movement and skill, classes if someone feels that they would perhaps on a trampoline for example, all prefer that option. We encourage our clubs the way through to elite skill. Anbody of any and coaches to listen to the gymnast first and impairment can get involved in gymnastics” foremost anf make sure that their needs are Patrick said. catered for.”

British Gymnastics have over 1200 clubs It’s easy to get involved in gymnastics and across the UK, with 200 of these being once you’ve tracked down a club local to you, specific to disability. To find a club near you, you can get involved straight away without you can visit www.british-gymnastics.org/ having to fork out the entire contents of your discover. By simply putting in a few details piggy bank on some expensive equipment. you can find the perfect class for you, from thrill-seeking to expressive, you can find Gymnastics is currently an Olympic sport, the right activity from the seven different but has not made it to the Paralympics yet.

24 | THE GYMNAST SPRING INTO ACTION FEATURE

Patrick discusses British Gymnastics future 2015, British Gymnastics helped develop plans to hopefully take this exciting sport to the South African disability gymnastics the Paralympics one day, but currently there programme, which is now delivered in are gymnastic championship levels which over 50% of ‘specialist schools’ across the disabled gymnasts can compete in. country. The next country to benefit will be Brazil, following the Paralympic Games. British Gymnastics is acknowledged The education programme will commence internationally by the FIG, (the World swiftly after the event with the objective of Governing Body for gymnastics) and other improving the provision of gymnastics for gymnastics federations across the world, as disabled people in the country. at the forefront of delivering and developing disability gymnastics. The success in the UK The growth in popularity and participation is inspiring other federations around the in disability gymnastics has been attributed world. Educating other countries around to the British Gymnastics ‘I’M IN’ disability the world is high priority for them, and in gymnastics initiative which aims to develop partnership with the FIG an international more high quality opportunities for disabled outreach programme was created. In people in gymnastics. Launched in 2013, the

THE GYMNAST | 25 FEATURE SPRING INTO ACTION

I’M IN programme offers specialist coaching “If you’re a gymnast you know how exciting support and mentoring to other clubs who the sport can be; the feeling of flight, the want to become more inclusive. To date, more feeling of being on a trampoline and having than 200 coaches have benefited from this that joy of movement and it’s an incredible initiative and they have taken their new skills joy of movement. If you ever step on a sprung and knowledge back to their respective clubs. floor or a trampoline for the first time and you In two years, these clubs have run 75 taster can experience your body moving a different days with nearly 850 disabled people trying way, is just an incredible experience.” the sport for the first time. These events have contributed hugely towards the increase in The I’M IN initiative has encouraged 1500 disability membership, with 1 in 4 of those disabled British Gymnastics members and is who attended a day going on to become made possible by Sports England. n regular members of a club.

26 | THE GYMNAST THE GYMNAST | 27 FEATURE MILANO ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL BY PAUL A. PENDERGEST CEO, MILANO THE MILANO HERITAGE CELELBRATING 20 YEARS TOGETHER

When you buy a leotard from Milano you don’t medal when Beth Tweddle triumphed on bars get just a leotard. You get a piece of sporting in 2006, and Max Whitlock’s historic World history made with care and excellence in our own Championship pommel gold in 2016. Milano UK factory. has been proud to be a part of the emergence of British Gymnastics as a world power in the sport, The Milano story began in 1991 when Paul supplying spectacular leotards that perform as and Lesley Pendergest were selling aerobic and good as they look. swim wear and were asked if they could make gymnastic leotards. The rest, as they say, is FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH history. With Lesley’s experience as a designer Other countries followed including the Russian with companies such as Speedo, allied to Paul’s team at the Beijing Olympics and today we are business skills, Milano Pro Sport was born, still supplying British Gymnastics, Russia and bringing a new flair to the sport with unequaled Romania, three of the world’s top gymnastic fit and performance. nations.

Using the best fabrics from the areas around Elsewhere, Milano has taken on special Milan, the name Milano was chosen to reflect commissions including Commonwealth Games Italian flair, quality and cutting edge fashion athletics kit for Linford Christie, the amazing although the company has always been wholly range of costumes for Britain’s Got Talent British. winners, Spellbound, Beth Tweddle’s remarkable tuxedo leotard for the Sports Personality of An audacious bid to supply all the kit for British the Year Awards and commissions for a host of Gymnastics in 1996 announced Milano’s arrival television special events and celebrities. on the world stage. 20 years on, Milano are the exclusive official Performance Gymnastics Wear The 20 years that we have shared with British Supplier for the British Gymnastics team and Gymnastics has been an amazing journey and we have supplied kit for numerous World, European have been proud to have been a part of the rise to and other Championships. Milano was worn for become a world force. Britain’s first ever World Championship Gold

28 | THE GYMNAST MILANO ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

DAN PURVIS

BECKY DOWNIE

KAT DRISCOLL

MAX WHITLOCK

THE GYMNAST | 29 DISCOUNT CODE BGMEMBER AMOUNT 20%

30 | THE GYMNAST DISCOUNT CODE BGMEMBER AMOUNT 20%

THE GYMNAST | 31 Dive into Europe’s stunning springtime festivities with IHG®

Take a break and recharge! With 30% off our best flexible rates Whether you are a gymnast enthusiast or taking time out to across the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe make the most of recharge, enjoy the springtime festivities for less... those extra sunlit hours. Book now through Getting ready for 2016’s British Gymnastic Championships? From July 2nd – 31st the best of gymnastics will be coming to Liverpool www.british-gymnastics.org/ihg featuring everything from trampolining to rhythmic events! * Terms and conditions available through IHG® booking page. TRAMPOLINE, TUMBLING & DMT BRITISH GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS OFFICIAL PROGRAMME 2016 WHAT’S COMING UP JULY TRAMPOLINE, TUMBLING & DMT BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS BUY TICKETS 02 - 03 July 2016 | Echo Arena, Liverpool

BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BUY TICKETS 28 - 31 July 2016 | Echo Arena, Liverpool AUGUST OLYMPIC GAMES BUY TICKETS 05 - 21 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BRITISH VETS SEPTEMBER06 - 07 August 2016 | Lilleshall NSC, Newport AEROBIC ALEX STRACHAN CUP 16 - 18 September 2016 | Surrey Sports Park, Guildford OCTOBER TEAMGYM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 12 - 15 October 2016 | Sports Hall Ljudski, Maribor, Slovenia NOVEMBER ACROBATIC CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS 12 - 13 November 2016 | Fenton Manor, Stoke-on-Trent

34 | THE GYMNAST GYMNAST DIGITAL MAGAZINE VOLUME 55 ISSUE 2 WHAT’S SUBSCRIBE EDITOR TO THE LATEST Tim Peake CALENDAR [email protected] DATES COMING UP FEATURES EDITOR Olivia Howard [email protected] DECEMBER CONTRIBUTOR Vera Atkinson MEN’S & WOMEN’S ESPOIR BRITISH [email protected] CHAMPIONSHIPS 02 - 04 December 2016 | Basildon DESIGN Karen Uppal Mark Young & Jemma Bishop

BGTV Gareth Finchett, Daniel Dyche & Simon Carswell [email protected]

BRITISH GYMNASTICS OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER Alan Edwards www.f2images.com

ADVERTISING Anthony Cave Cabbell Publishing Ltd, Wimbledon Studios, 1 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL T. 0203 6037934 [email protected]

PUBLISHED BY British Gymnastics Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 9AT Tel 0345 1297129 Registered In England No. 1630001 VAT Reg. No. 100166672 36 | THE GYMNAST