It was not until the final routines of the last rotation at the Tokyo Olympics women’s team final that the world of gymnastics took note of Great Britain’s emergence as one of the sport’s leading countries. Even as the competition unfolded and their rivals began to fall, Britain’s performances were initially obscured by the drama surrounding Simone Biles as she removed herself from the competition. A year later, Britain consolidated their success with a silver medal at the world championships in Liverpool.
This weekend, the best gymnasts in the country will converge again at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena for the British gymnastics championships, which act as one of the final selection events for the Paris Olympics. One of the key questions over the coming months leading up until the Games is whether Britain, no longer the underdogs hidden from view, can continue to build on their success with a team capable of battling the best in the world once more.
The absence of two significant names in Liverpool is a major blow to those ambitions. Last year at the world championships in Antwerp, Jessica Gadirova, already world champion on the floor exercise and the all-around bronze medallist in 2022, established herself among the elite by debuting the extremely difficult “Cheng” vault. She qualified for the all-around final in third place, edging out the previous champion, Rebeca Andrade.
But just before the final, Gadirova was forced to withdraw with a knee injury that was eventually diagnosed as a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a catastrophe nine months before the Olympics. Gadirova, the talismanic force in the women’s team success, will play no role in Liverpool, nor at the European Championships. Her twin, Jennifer, who contributed to two major medals, is also absent with injury. With the team due to be picked at the end of May, the pair’s chances of competing in Paris are remote. Without them, Britain will have to show their depth. Barring disaster, Alice Kinsella and Ondine Achampong have positioned themselves as essential contributors for the Olympic team, but beyond them there are three spots up for grabs and a world of opportunity for whoever seizes the moment in the final selection events, which end with the European Championships next month.
By far the most fascinating contender is Becky Downie, who, at 32, is attempting to qualify for her third Olympics. Downie, a European champion and world medallist, made her Olympic debut in 2008 and non-selections in 2012 and 2021 have not stopped her from persevering. In the past her age may have marked her as an anomaly, but she is now rather a reflection of the changing face of professional gymnastics, with more and more women breaking down the unscientific and outright damaging myths that have dominated the sport for decades by achieving longevity.
Beyond Downie, the picture is even more opaque. The surprise comeback of Amelie Morgan, a member of the Tokyo bronze medal team, provides a reflection of the uncertainty and opportunity in the absence of the Gadirova twins. Morgan shifted to college gymnastics after Tokyo, but is back to compete for a place in her second Olympics. Meanwhile, Georgia-Mae Fenton and Ruby Evans, who have been part of teams since Tokyo, will also be competing for a spot in Paris.
In the men’s field, Max Whitlock, Great Britain’s greatest gymnast, continues his return as he looks to compete in a fourth consecutive Olympics and chase his fourth Olympic gold, having dominated the pommel horse over the past two Games.
There will be four world champions competing for a spot on the men’s team. Jake Jarman, last year’s winner in the vault, has positioned himself well for a first Olympics, while Joe Fraser, the 2019 parallel bars champion, and Giarnni Regini-Moran, the 2022 floor gold medallist, are coming back from injury.
There was a time when their pedigree alone would have virtually guaranteed a spot, but these days the standards are high, the competition is strong and there are even younger, fresher gymnasts fighting for places on the team. Over the coming weeks, we will see where they all land.
