45th WORLD ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Nanning CHN 3rd - 12th October 2014 MEDIA GUIDE BRITISH GYMNASTICS MEDIA GUIDE 45th WORLD ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS Nanning CHN, 3-12 October 2014 Table of Contents: 1 Introduction 2 2014 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Nanning, CHN Dates, Competition venue, Contacts 3 Media Accreditation Media Contacts Media Updates 4 GBR Team 5 Competition Schedule 6 The Ascent to Glory - A decade of British Gymnastics (1999-2013) 9 The British World Medal Tally 12 Best Individual achievements 12 Best Team achievements men & women 12 The London 2012 Olympic Games – GB Team Results 12 Artistic Gymnastics – apparatus, scoring and judging 13 Recent Results 17 2013 World Championships Antwerp (BEL) 2014 European Championships Sofia (BUL) 2011 World Championships Tokyo (JPN) 18 2012 Olympic Games London (GBR) 23 1 Introduction: British Gymnastics is pleased to present its 2014 Media Guide – Artistic Gymnastics which has been compiled to assist the press and media in covering the performances of British gymnasts at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Nanning (CHN). Any comments, suggestions or feedback on this guide can be provided to: Vera Atkinson Media Specialist British Gymnastics E: [email protected] Nanning 2014 – First Olympic Qualifications round for Rio 2016 Halfway between London 2012 and Rio 2016 these World Championships will serve as the first “sieve” through to the next Olympic Games in Brazil. With rejuvenated teams from all over the world and new International Codes of Points for men and for women, this event will indicate what could happen in Rio in two years’ time. Only the top 24 teams for men and for women in Nanning will qualify to the second Olympic Qualification stage – the World Championships in Glasgow in 2015 where the top eight men's and women's teams will qualify automatically for the Rio Olympics. The teams ranked 9th through 16th will qualify for the Rio Test Event, to be held early in 2016. The top four men's and women's teams at the Test Event will earn the final Olympic team berths. This is the first World Championships since the London 2012 Olympic Games to feature the full gymnastics programme: team, individual all-around and apparatus finals for men and for women. After Tianjin 1999 this will be the second World Championships hosted by China and the fourth held in Asia in the 111-year history of the World Championships launched in Belgium in 1903. The Chinese bid was approved by the FIG Executive Committee in the summer of 2011. The FIG President Prof Bruno Grandi (ITA) was delighted with the preparation for the event. “After Tianjin in 1999 and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, I am looking forward to returning to China, a country where gymnastics is deeply rooted in tradition and culture”, he declared. Nanning is a city of 7 million inhabitants, located in the Guangxi region in the extreme south of the People's Republic of China. It is labelled the Green City by his inhabitants, due to the abundant lush vegetation. The legendary Chinese gymnasts Li Ning, was born and raised in this region. He was the revelation of the Los Angeles Games in 1984, winning a total of five medals, including three gold. In 1990 Li Ning started his own sportswear business which is now known worldwide. His brand will be an official supplier of the 2014 FIG World Championships. 2 2014 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Nanning CHN Event Dates: The event will be held between 3rd and 12th October 2014. Competition venue: Guangxi Sports Centre Gymnasium, Nanning- a sports complex built in 2012 which can accommodate more than 9,000 spectators. Contacts: Federation International de Gymnastique (FIG) Contact Persons: Terhi Toivanen (MAG) Céline Cachemaille (WAG) Avenue de la Gare 12 Case Postale 630 CH - 1001 Lausanne Tel : +41 (0)21 321 55 10 Direct : +41 (0)21 321 55 33 (T. Toivanen) / +41 (0)21 321 55 14 (C. Cachemaille) Fax : +41 (0)21 321 55 19 Email : [email protected] / [email protected] Website : http://www.fig-gymnastics.com Organizing Committee (LOC) No.62, Taoyuan Road Nanning, Guangxi China Tel : +86 771 2191311 / +86 771 2191322 Fax : +86 771 2824526 · Media Only: [email protected] Website: www.nanning2014gymnastics.com Media Accreditation Journalists and photographers can request their accreditation for the World Championships Artistic Gymnastics 2013. Accreditations will be provided to professional journalists, holders of a recognized press card and to the designated representatives of federations. To register journalists and photographers are kindly requested to visit the FIG/UEG media website at www.fedintgym.com/mediamanager Media Contacts: All media requests are to be directed to British Gymnastics Media in Nanning Tim Peake: M: 07825980335 E: [email protected] Twitter - @britgymnastics 3 Media updates: Previews, reviews, quotes and results will be distributed to media outlets at regular intervals throughout the World Championships. If you currently do not receive media releases from British Gymnastics Media and wish to subscribe to the distribution list, please send an email to [email protected] The British Gymnastics Twitter @britgymnastics will provide quick hits from the event supported through updates on the British Gymnastics Facebook page. For further information regarding gymnastics and the World Championships, please visit the following websites: British Gymnastics: W: www.british-gymnastics.org International Gymnastics Federation (FIG): W: www.fig-gymnastics.com Event Web Site: W: www.nanning2014gymnastics.com 4 GBR team The British men’s team includes 2014 all-around British, Commonwealth and European Champion Max Whitlock, alongside his English Commonwealth gold medal teammates Nile Wilson and Kristian Thomas. 2014 Commonwealth parallel bars Champion for Scotland Daniel Purvis also takes a spot, as does his teammate 2014 Commonwealth pommel horse Champion Daniel Keatings and double junior European Champion Courtney Tulloch. The reserve is 2012 Junior European Champion Frank Baines. The women’s team includes 2014 European silver medallists and Commonwealth Champions Becky Downie, Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold and Hannah Whelan alongside member of the English Commonwealth winning team Kelly Simm, 2013 British Champion Gabby Jupp and 2013 British silver medallist Charlie Fellows. A team is made up of six gymnasts and a reserve will be named at a later date. The Championships include team, individual all-around and apparatus competitions for both men and women and will be held in Nanning, China at the Guangxi Gymnasium. The British gymnasts Max Whitlock – 21 – South Essex GC – Basildon – 2012 double Olympic bronze medallist Dan Keatings – 24 – Huntingdon GC – Corby – 2008 Olympian and two-time European pommel horse Champion Dan Purvis – 23 – Southport YMCA – Southport - 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Nile Wilson – 18 – Leeds GC – Leeds – Two-time 2014 Commonwealth Champion and five –time 2014 junior European Champion Kristian Thomas – 25 – Earls GC – Wolverhampton - 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Courtney Tulloch – 18 – Pegasus GC – Maidstone – Double 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Champion Reserve: Frank Baines – 19 – Southport YMCA – Liverpool – 2012 Junior European Champion Becky Downie- 22 – Notts GC - Nottingham – 2008 Olympian and 2014 European uneven bars Champion Hannah Whelan – 22 – City of Liverpool - Liverpool - 2008 and 2012 Olympian Ruby Harrold – 18 – The Academy - Bristol – European team silver medallist and world bar finalist Claudia Fragapane – 16 – Bristol Hawks - Bristol - Four times 2014 Commonwealth Champion Gabrielle Jupp - 17 – Sapphire GC - Borhamwood - 2013 Senior British all-around Champion Kelly Simm- 19 – Dynamo GC - Whitely – 2014 Vault British Champion and Commonwealth team gold Charlie Fellows – 17 – City of Liverpool - Crewe – 2013 Senior British all-around silver medallist Full profiles can be found at www.british-gymnastics.org/gymnast-profiles 5 Competition Schedule: Mon. Sept. 29 MAG Podium Training (Day 1) Training Halls As per Schedule Warm-up Hall FOP Tue. Sept. 30 MAG Podium Training (Day 2) Training Halls As per Schedule Warm-up Hall FOP Wed. Oct. 1 WAG Podium Training (Day 1) Training Halls As per Schedule Warm-up Hall FOP Thus. Oct. 2 WAG Podium Training (Day 2) Training Halls As per Schedule Warm-up Hall FOP 17:00-18:00 Opening Press Conference Mingyuan Xindu Hotel 18:30-20:00 Media Banquet Mingyuan Xindu Hotel 18:30-20:00 Official Reception (TBC) Fri. Oct. 3 MAG Qualifying Competition FOP (Day 1) FIG Flag and Oaths Opening FOP 08:45-09:00 Ceremony 09:00-11:15 Subdivision 1 FOP 11:30-13:45 Subdivision 2 FOP 14:30-16:45 Subdivision 3 FOP 17:00-19:15 Subdivision 4 FOP 20:00-22:15 Subdivision 5 FOP Sat. Oct. 4 MAG Qualifying Competition (Day FOP 2) 09:00-11:15 Subdivision 6 FOP 11:30-13:45 Subdivision 7 FOP 14:30-16:45 Subdivision 8 FOP 17:00-19:15 Subdivision 9 FOP 20:00-22:15 Subdivision 10 FOP Sun. Oct. 5 WAG Qualifying Competition FOP (Day 1) 09:00-10:45 Subdivision 1 FOP 11:00-12:45 Subdivision 2 FOP 13:30-15:15 Subdivision 3 FOP 15:30-17:15 Subdivision 4 FOP 6 18:00-19:45 Subdivision 5 FOP 20:00-21:45 Subdivision 6 FOP Mon. Oct. 6 WAG Qualifying Competition FOP (Day 2) 09:00-10:45 Subdivision 7 FOP 11:00-12:45 Subdivision 8 FOP 13:30-15:15 Subdivision 9 FOP 15:30-17:15 Subdivision 10 FOP 18:00-19:45 Subdivision 11 FOP 20:00-21:45 Subdivision 12 FOP Tue. Oct. 7 18:00-18:48 Official Opening Ceremony FOP 19:00-22:00 MAG Teams Finals FOP 22:00-22:10 Award Ceremony MAG Teams FOP Immed. after Medallists’ Press Conference Press Conf. Area Ceremony Wed. Oct. 8 19:00-21:00 WAG Teams Finals Award FOP 21:00-21:10 Ceremony WAG Teams Final FOP Immed.