The Rio Olympic Squad has been announced! The following five girls will represent Great Britain in just 3 weeks time. Brimming with talent and experience, this team has incredible potential, building on their historic bronze medal of the 2015 World Championships which they were all a part of. I can’t wait to see how they do at the Games! #BringOnTheGreat
RUBY HARROLD
Age: 20
Club: The Academy
Bio: Ruby was a reserve for the London 2012 Olympic Games and has been a dependable member of the British National Squad for a number of years, excelling especially in the most recent 4-year cycle. She is an outstanding Bar worker, known for her creative transitions and solid form, which have put her in the last three World Championship finals. She is also a fierce all around competitor. She finished 8th overall in the 2013 European Championships which made her the first British woman to produce a top-10 performance in an all-around European final.
On her selection: “I don’t think it’s really sunk in, it’s just all a bit mad, I don’t really think it’s happening but I’m so excited at the same time”
On representing Great Britain: “To be able to wear that flag on your chest and go and show what Team GB are made of and what we’ve been working so hard for is fantastic”
Thing to know: After the Games Ruby will be moving to America to study at Louisiana State University and compete on the NCAA circuit for the LSU Tigers.
CLAUDIA FRAGAPANE
Age: 18
Club: Bristol Hawks
Bio: Despite being only 4’6” tall Claudia packs explosive power, which really shows on the Floor and Vault, and earned her the nickname “pocket rocket”. She is best known for her 2014 Commonwealth Games gold rush, where she won team, all around, vault, and floor gold medals, in her first year as senior gymnast. Since then she has helped Great Britain clinch two team silver medals at the 2014 and 2016 European Championships, as well as an historic bronze at the World Championships. She also won a silver medal individually at the 2015 European Championships, on Floor.
On her selection: “I’m really really excited I just can’t wait to go out there and perform my best for the team. I’m really looking forward to it”
On representing Great Britain: "I love competing for GB because of all the support I get and that massive feeling when you’ve landed your last tumble … and the crowd goes wild … amazing”
Thing to know: Claudia (pronounced cloud-ia, not claw-dia) has Italian heritage, as well as British.
AMY TINKLER
Age: 16
Club: South Durham
Bio: Amy made her Senior debut in 2015, and immediately became the English all around champion, British all around champion, and British Floor champion. This succession of triumphs secured her place on the team to represent Great Britain at the 2015 World Championships. Amy’s Vault score of 15.083 was crucial towards bringing home the bronze medal. This year she repeated her success on Floor at the British championships, winning the Floor title again, as well as placing second all around at the English Championships and fourth at the British.
On her selection: “All of this still seems like a dream, I’m not sure at what point it will sink in and become real”.
On representing Great Britain: “To be able to represent Team GB is such an honour, and to be alongside these girls as well… I’m so happy"
Thing to know: Amy will be the youngest athlete representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games, in any sport!
ELLIE DOWNIE
Age: 17 next week (July 20)
Club: Notts
Bio: After making a name for herself internationally in the Junior ranks, Ellie became a Senior gymnast in 2015. Her first Senior international competition was the European Championships, and she became the first ever individual all-around medallist for a British female gymnast, winning the bronze medal with a score of 56.623. She later played a vital role in the bronze medal success at the 2015 World Championships. In May of this year Ellie won all four individual event titles at the Osijek World Cup, a result never seen in the modern era of gymnastics. In the 2016 European Championships she assisted the Senior team to win the Silver medal and claimed two silver medals individually, on Floor and Vault. She cites her older sister Becky as her biggest inspiration.
On her selection: “We’ve been working our whole lives for this and to compete alongside all these girls, and especially Becks ‘cos she’s my sister, is just gonna be absolutely amazing. I can’t wait for it”.
On representing Great Britain: “I can't thank my friends, family & coaches enough for all the support you have given me.”
Thing to know: Ellie was the first British gymnast to compete the Patterson double Arabian dismount off Beam.
BECKY DOWNIE
Age: 24
Club: Notts
Bio: A natural born leader and multiple British, European, and Commonwealth gold medallist, Becky is also the only member of this team who has already competed at an Olympic Games. She has a wealth of international experience as a Senior gymnast- too many achievements to name- ranging from finishing 12th all around at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (the highest AA placing to date for a British Women’s Artistic gymnast), to winning the European Bars title this year. And she’s not ready to slow down just yet, stating in one interview “Beth Tweddle competed until she was 28, I could have another Olympics in me”.
On her selection: “It’s just such an honour to be part of this team. This cycle has definitely been one of my favourites, and to make the team with Ellie as well is just an incredible feeling and I’m so excited to get out there and be part of the team with these girls. (To find out both Ellie and I made the team) was really special... (there were) definitely some tears”.
On representing Great Britain: “There’s nothing more special than going out and representing your country and getting to wear red, white, and blue"
Thing to know: Becky created her own skill on the Bars- a "stalder backwards on high bar with counter pike – reverse hecht over high bar to hang”. The Downie was named after her in 2010.
I can’t believe it’s been four years already since the 2012 Olympic Games. It feels like yesterday and yet it feels like a lifetime ago. I’ve changed a lot since then personally, but something that hasn’t changed is my love for gymnastics: it’s only gotten stronger! I’ll be cheering the girls on at the top of my lungs, from behind my computer screen! Sending them all my love and luck.
GO GB!!!
