Team England has officially announced their gymnastics squad for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which completes the line-up for the Home Nations.
A squad of 13 gymnasts has been selected by Team England to compete this summer. The men’s artistic gymnastics squad includes 2012 Olympic bronze medallists Sam Oldham, Louis Smith MBE, Kristian Thomas and Max Whitlock and five times junior European Champion, 18 year old Nile Wilson completes the line-up.
The women’s artistic team is led by European Champion and double Commonwealth Games medallist Rebecca Downie, who’s joined by three of the 2014 European Silver medal winning team – Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold, and Hannah Whelan with Kelly Simm taking the final position.
2014 British hoop and ball silver medallist Stephani Sherlock, 2014 British all-around bronze medallist Mimi-Isabella Cesar and 2012 Olympian Lynne Hutchison will all compete in the rhythmic gymnastics competition.
The 20th Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow from the 24th July to 3rd August 2014 with 72 Nations taking part in 261 events over 17 sports. The gymnastics disciplines of artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics form part of the Games with competitors competing for home nations rather than Great Britain/British Gymnastics.
Team Wales
2014 Welsh all-around champion Raer Theaker leads the women’s artistic Welsh team. She is joined by 2012 British Junior European team members Georgina Hockenhull and Angel Romaeo, 2014 British floor champion Lizzie Beddoe and Jessica Hogg who finished fifth in the floor event at the Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010.
The youngest members of the men’s team are 17 year-olds Jac Davies and Iwan Mepham from Carmarthen and Barry respectively. Both gymnasts competed for Wales at the Northern European Championships where Iwan won a silver medal for his high bar routine. Iwan has also represented Wales at table tennis. 21 year-old Robert Sansby and Harry Owen from Haverfordwest both competed at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man in 2011with Harry winning a bronze medal in the individual all-around event. 25 year-old Clinton Purnell from Cardiff takes the final spot; he represented Wales in Delhi 2010.
The Welsh rhythmic team is particularly strong with 2014 British all-around champion Laura Halford competing alongside 2012 Olympian and silver medallist in Delhi 2010 Francesca Jones and Nikara Jenkins who has won a hat-trick of British titles.
Team Scotland
2012 Olympic bronze medallist Daniel Purvis and 2008 Olympian and 2013 European Champion Dan Keatings head up the men’s artistic team alongside 2012 Junior European Champion Frank Baines, high bar bronze medallist in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Adam Cox and Liam Davie who represented Scotland at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man.
2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games member Emma White leads the women’s team alongside Amy Regan who finished 4th in Delhi in the floor final, Scottish floor champion Carly Smith, former Scottish Junior champion Cara Kennedy and Scottish beam champion Erin McLachlan.
The Scottish rhythmic team is made up of 2014 senior Scottish champion Rebecca Bee and silver medallist Victoria Clow alongside 2013 Australian Youth Olympic competitor Lauren Brash.
Team Northern Ireland
2014 Irish all-around silver medallist Nicole Mawhinney is joined by 2014 Irish beam and floor champion India McPeak and 2012 Junior European competitors Sarah Beck and Ciara Roberts for the women’s artistic team.
2014 Celtic Cup parallel bars champion Luke Carson who has made an incredible comeback after a string of injuries is joined in the men’s artistic competition by member of the 2014 Irish European team Matthew Cosgrave.
Team Isle of Man
2014 British vault finalist Tara Donnelly and 2013 Island Games champion Grace Harrison lead the women’s artistic team joined by Kaitlin Kneen and Nicole Burns.
The men’s artistic team is Mukunda Measuria, Harshul Measuria, Anand Patel and Alex Hedges.
Team Jersey
Charlotte Pollard will be the first ever Commonwealth Games gymnast from Jersey. She is the reigning Wiltshire Open champion and won two medals at the 2013 Island Games.
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