Rebecca Downie was a competitor for Great Britain at the recent 2014 World Championships, where she contributed very solid routines on bars and beam, helping her team qualify to the team final in fourth place- the highest qualification placing that the women of Great Britain have had at a World Championship. Individually, Downie secured a position in the uneven bars final, an event that she is a true master of. Downie expressed to Gymnastike her World Championship insight and experience, giving exclusive information on her time in Nanning. 



1. How was your Worlds experience in Nanning, China this year?

 

My worlds experience in Nanning was amazing ! I had such a great trip filled with lots of laughs and hard work with my team and I really enjoyed every minute.

 

2. Did you achieve your goals going into this competition?

 

I do feel I achieved my goals going into this competition, of course there are always areas for improvement, but overall I'm really happy with how everything went.

 

3. What was the best thing you got to experience in Nanning outside of training/competition?

After we'd finished competing in China, I went out one evening with Hannah & Ruby to experience China at night & it was incredible !! We had some drinks and were seated outside in the middle of China, where all the buildings were lit up with flashing lights and it really was an incredible experience.

 

4. What was the most surprising thing you encountered or had to get use to in Nanning, either in competition or outside of competition?

 

I wouldn't really say anything surprised my that much, because I've previously been to China, but I would say the most annoying thing was that the majority of the toilets were holes in the floor, and that just wasn't cool, haha !

 

5. Sixth as a team in the World, what do you think GBR needs to focus on in order to be a contender for the top spot against China and USA?

 

I think we are on the right track and I'm so proud of what we accomplished as a team. To be able to contend with the bigger countries, I'd just say we can improve on all areas such as consistency, execution and start values.

 

6. Looking in the future, what’s next for you? What are you doing until the end of this year? What will you be hoping for next year?

 

My plans for the rest if this year are to let myself recover physically and mentally, because this year has been huge having to compete at 3 major championships. I have no plans to compete until 2015 now, and will be working on my new skills in order to be ready for the new year.

 

7. What upgrades or improvements do you hope to make heading towards Rio 2016?

I have a lot of upgrades especially for bars in mind which is really exciting, but at the same time I know will require a lot of hard work. Some of the skills I've already done, I just haven't mastered them yet and there are others that I still need to learn. We have plans in place and providing I can stay healthy, I'm really excited for the coming years ahead & I'm also really excited about Ellie becoming a senior next year and the possibility of us both competing together for our country.

Video By: GutsuFan