Britain’s women gymnasts have been told that Olympic qualification is within their grasp when the world championships start in Glasgow on Friday – provided they handle the pressure of competing in front of a packed home crowd.
The six-strong women’s squad, consisting of the four-time Commonwealth gold medallist Claudia Fragapane, Becky and Ellie Downie, Kelly Simm, Ruby Harrold and Amy Tinkler, have to finish in the top eight of the women’s all-around competition to book their place in Rio. And Amanda Reddin, who guided Beth Tweddle to three world titles before taking charge of the British women’s squad in 2012, expects them to deliver when their competition starts at teatime on Friday.
“We have had a very good training camp and the girls have worked very hard,” said Reddin. “It’s fabulous to be competing in the home country and everybody is willing you on. We just have to make sure that nerves don’t take over and that we deliver on the day.”
While many eyes will be on Fragapane given her spectacular performances in Glasgow last summer, she has only just recovered from an ankle injury which has limited her in training. However, the 23-year-old Becky Downie, the European uneven bars champion last year, has been in excellent form, as has her 16-year-old sister Ellie, who makes her world championship debut after becoming the first British women to win an individual all-around medal – bronze – at the European Championships earlier this year. Tinkler, who turns 16 on Tuesday, is another world championship debutant with great expectations on her shoulders, having taken the British all-around title after moving up from junior to senior level.
Meanwhile the British men’s squad begin their bid for Olympic qualification on Sunday morning knowing that they too must finish in the top eight of the all-around competition to make it to Rio. They should do so with ease and, given that four London 2012 medal winners are in the squad, they are also hoping to challenge for a podium position. As Eddie van Hoof, the men’s head national coach, said: “We all have a pretty good idea of the levels of the other teams and if we do our jobs well that podium finish is a definite possibility.”
Britain’s men also have several strong individual medal chances over the course of the 10-day event, including the world championship all-around silver medallist Max Whitlock, the European champions Louis Smith and Kristian Thomas, and the home favourite Daniel Purvis. The other two members of the British squad Nile Wilson, 19, and Brinn Bevan, 18, will also play their part in the team competition.
However, Van Hoof is urging caution in Whitlock’s case after he had glandular fever earlier this year. “There is a lot of focus on Max and the silver medal he got in China last year showed what a great performer he is,” he said. “But he’s had a few health issues this year so we’re not pushing so hard to say he’s going to medal as an individual. But he’s absolutely rock solid and now back to full force.”
The British team also have high hopes for Smith, who returns to his first world championships since retiring in 2012. “He’s proved his ability all this year by winning the European championships and he’s really contributing to the team,” said Van Hoof. “I’m immensely impressed because, as you say, it would have been easy for Louis to just sort of drift off into the background.”
Meanwhile, Van Hoof believes that Purvis also has the talent to do well in front of his home crowd. “He’s pushing hard and his routines have all been slightly upgraded and what we are trying to do with Dan is to get him to relax and really enjoy this experience,” he added.
