World Gymnastics Championships 2015

Bristol Hawks is proud to have been a part of what turned out to be a historic World Championships for British Gymnastics. With our involvement in both the Men’s & Women’s Championships we took the unprecedented step of closing the gym for the duration. Many of our members took the chance to support the GB team and Claudia in particular. The best gymnastics performed by gymnasts from 87 countries across the world was enhanced by Glasgow’s inspired showcasing of the event at the Hydro Arena. Our Bristol Hawks family where all rightly proud of Claudia, Rory Weavers [selected by BG to be part of the team of GB coaches to the championships, and taking part in his first World Championships] & James May [selected by the World Gymnastics Governing body, FIG, to be head judge on the High Bar] who all travelled up early to prepare for the Championships and what a fantastic job they all did.
Our Men’s & Women’s teams both qualified to the Rio Olympics which was the main aim for this event. The medals for both our Men’s and Women’s team were a fantastic bonus and underline the continuing rise of British Gymnastics on the World stage. GB took home a record breaking number of World medals and Max Whitlock’s Gold on pommels was a first ever for GB too.
Claudia had a fantastic championships playing a crucial role in both the qualification of the British Women’s team to the Rio Olympics and the historic first ever World Team Medal for our GB Women’s team. On top of this she also qualified individually for her second time to a World Floor final a fantastic achievement especially considering she suffered a recent ankle injury which threatened her involvement in the Championships.
In the team final each of the top 8 countries from qualification put up their three best gymnasts on each apparatus with every score counting towards the team total. This 3 up 3 to count format creates an exciting format and the gymnasts need nerves of steel to cope with the demands of this highly stressful situation. Claudia did a great job on beam starting for GB and hitting well with both the Downie sisters also hitting their routines it was a great apparatus for GB and proved to be highly significant in our victory over the powerhouse nation of Russia.But this was not the end of the story….…. Claudia went on to post the best score for GB on floor a fantastic 14.733 and this was backed up with two great floors from Amy Tinkler & Ellie Downie. These three went into the final apparatus Vault with GB in with a chance having also posted solid bar routines from both Becky Downie & Ruby Harrold. Claudia again was first up and hit her Double Twisting Yurchenko followed by two of the same cracking vaults from Amy & Ellie. Great Britain had won its first World Team medal and the crowd went wild! In the floor final Rory & Claudia were a picture of professionalism with Claudia once again producing another unbelievable and charismatic routine to place 7th in the World. It’s lovely to be a part of GB’s ongoing success on the World scene and we are all looking forward to Rio! Onwards & Upwards!!!