Interviews With British Gymnastics Rio Hopefuls

Interviews With British Gymnastics Rio Hopefuls

The 2016 Rio Olympics are just a few months away, and while most countries have not selected their teams yet, the focus is clearly on the Games. British Gym

Apr 4, 2016 by Becca Reed
Interviews With British Gymnastics Rio Hopefuls
The 2016 Rio Olympics are just a few months away, and while most countries have not selected their teams yet, the focus is clearly on the Games. British Gymnastics won't announce its Olympic teams until July 12, but below are three interviews with its Olympic hopefuls.

Read the British Gymnastics press release below or see it on their site here.

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Gymnast Magazine – Exclusive interviews with Team GB hopefuls

On the 12th of July we will officially announce the Team GB gymnasts for the Rio, Olympic Games. Making the GB team is one of the proudest moments in any gymnasts career, a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. The tremendous depth of talent across the Olympic disciplines however means that the battle to make the plane to The Games has never been tougher.

We spoke with three Olympians, who are all aiming for Rio,about their experiences and how they are feeling as they bid to make the team.


Becky Downie – 2008 Beijing Olympian, artistic gymnastics



GB have qualified full men's and women's artistic gymnastics team for Rio (five gymnasts per team)


HOW DOES THIS COMPARE?

“Every time has been different. The first time round in 2008 was all new, I had no real expectations I just really, really wanted to make the team. London was a lot harder, I’d had injury difficulties across the whole cycle so it was a tough run in to try and make the team. I then had a big decision to make after not making the London team about if I wanted to carry on and try for Rio, I’m so glad I did as the last few years have been some of my most successful and enjoyable - I now feel very positive at the start of this Olympic year.”


HOW HAVE THE PAST EXPERIENCES HELPED YOU?

“I feel so much more prepared than ever before. With Beijing I was young and then for 2012 there were injuries and some brilliant young gymnasts coming through and I think I let the pressure get to me at times. Now I feel much more settled, I feel I have a lot of experience and knowledge to fall back on, I’m also very clear about what my job is and what I need to do in the gym.”


AND WHAT IS THAT JOB?

“I know I’m a bars and beam worker and I know over this cycle I’ve been able to post really good scores on those pieces at a World level for the team. As an individual, I know that on bars I’m capable of making an impact on the medals at any competition. Tactically, I have options on bars, I can look at what I need to achieve at different points and have options within my routine to do what I need to do, and that comes with experience too. I feel like I’m learning and reflecting more when it comes to the specifics of my routines and what I need to deliver which is very reassuring and definitely helps my confidence.

This cycle has been really successful for me personally and for the whole women’s programme. We have really amazing support from British Gymnastics, personal coaches and support staff. I feel like I’m enjoying my gymnastics and I’m a lot more relaxed and in control. When I was younger, I’d let things get to me but as I near the end of my career I’m learning to appreciate that not everything always goes perfectly but you have to move on and not let things get to you.”


HOW DOES THE RUN IN TO THE OLYMPIC SELECTION FEEL FOR A GYMNAST?

“The Olympic year is always a big year, the media attention, the extra scrutiny and talk does definitely add pressure and expectation. The Olympics only come round once every four years and for some people that chance may never happen again. I’ve learnt a lot from the London cycle where I kept worrying about what I needed to do to make the team, to now just focusing on continuing to train hard and work on my goals with my coach. All I can do is try my best every day.”


TWO GYMNASTS IN THE DOWNIE HOUSE AIMING TO MAKE THE TEAM, HOW IS IT WITH ELLIE ALONGSIDE YOU?

“Having Ellie with me could be quite difficult in a way as ultimately we are “rivals” for the team as there are only 5 places but I think we both feel quite chilled at the moment with our positions in the set up. We both have our own objectives that we work on and try to work together and encourage each other as much as possible. I talk to Ellie about my experiences and try to keep her relaxed, I’ve been on both sides of the selection process so just tell her to enjoy the experience, enjoy every competition, if it’s meant to be it will happen, just try your best and then you can have no regrets.”


Daniel Purvis – London 2012 Olympian, artistic gymnastics



IT’S BEEN A HISTORIC OLYMPIC CYCLE FOR OUR TEAMS, AHEAD OF RIO HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO REFLECT ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS?

“It’s still surreal the achievements for both the men and women, what we accomplished this cycle is hard to sink in, maybe when I’ve retired I can look back at think about the history we have made. For now though the focus is very much on what’s next, how can I improve and how can the team improve.
Countries all over the world are looking at us and trying to replicate what we do and find our secrets to success. To be honest I enjoy that, it’s great to have that focus and know that all eyes are on the Brits when we compete. Since 2012 we’ve continued to push on, we haven’t rested, we always look to better ourselves and make a mark and I think we’ve done that.”


PERSONALLY WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON SINCE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS?


“After the World Championships I looked at my all-around performance, which I was
really happy with, and trying to find the small improvements. There’s things like ensuring my legs stay together throughout my pommel routine in competitions, upping my parallel bars routine difficulty even more and continuing to fine tune the other routines so I can compete them when it matters. “


WHAT’S THE SPIRIT LIKE WITHIN THE MEN’S CAMP?

“It’s crazy to think when I was a little lad 12 or 13 at my first British training camp I was with the same boys who are now Olympic and World medal winners. We’ve really all grown up together as close friends and that same spirit we had as kids and the same friendly rivalry always pushing each other to improve has stayed to this day. To have experienced so many historic events as a squad has strengthened our bond and we have great respect for each other as everyone knows how hard everyone else works.

Yes, there is friendly rivalry, particularly this year as we are all very aware of the task to make the team for Rio. We know there will be sad times when some don’t make it but equally those that aren’t selected are still part of the team in my eyes, every squad member has been involved in getting us to where we are and played a role in each-others successes.”


HOW TOUGH IS THE CHALLENGE TO MAKE THE TEAM GOING TO BE?

“We all know that every competition is under a microscope now, the coaches are watching every routine and studying every score so it’s now that the pressure builds. I try not to get carried away and look too far ahead; you try to keep focussed on each day. Training is the key, I’ve been through two Olympic cycles and done lots of competitions so I trust my ability and know if I train well and put the hours in I can perform under pressure which is important for the months ahead.”

Selection for this year’s team is going to be a massive challenge, there were six of us at the World Championships and there will be five in Rio. The British Championship will be a hugely significant event and one I know a lot of the gymnasts are looking forward to. If I was to get selected, I’d be over the moon and would relish the competition knowing I have experience from London and so I think I’d be more relaxed and able to perform at a high level – but there’s a long way to go yet!”


Kat Driscoll – London 2012 Olympian, trampoline gymnastics



Team GB will have two female trampoline gymnasts in Rio and the potential for one male following this month’s Test Event


HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW, AIMING TO MAKE THE TEAM COMPARED TO FOUR YEARS AGO AHEAD OF LONDON?

“I definitely feel more prepared, and I feel like I know what to expect. We have a tight group working together well, training at Lilleshall Monday to Friday every week building up our intensity as the year goes on and it feels like we are heading in the right direction.

It’s different now to how I felt this time ahead of trying to qualify for London for my first Games. Being a home Games made it a huge deal, which every Olympic is, but at home it felt like everyone was involved, friends, family, everyone had an interest and wanted to be there to see you, everyone was talking about it non-stop. This time round having been through that excitement I feel like I’m more relaxed and
I’m enjoying the process more, the thought of going to an Olympics doesn’t daunt me this time round, I know what to expect so that helps a lot.”


WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE AIMING FOR AN OLYMPIC GAMES?

“The Olympic year is very different to any other year. You feel like you are on a timescale all the time, like every day counts which of course it does across the whole cycle but you feel it more in Olympic year. Every day feels more and more important, every competition counts, every training session is monitored so you become very focussed on trying to find improvements everywhere. At the same time though I find it more enjoyable, there’s more of a buzz and more excitement, it’s definitely intense but also more fun I think.”


AND HOW IS YOUR TRAINING GOING?

“I feel like I’m in good place performance wise. We’ve had in house competitions, European trials, and the Baku World Cup which have all gone well for me. It’s nice to see that my scores have increased from the last World Championship and that I’m pushing forward. I’m not planning on playing safe, I want to try and push the boundaries, last year we had a job to do to secure the Olympic places for Team GB and now I’m ready to go up a level. So far that plan has been working and I don’t plan on backing off, I want to test all my options and if selected go to the Games with big routines.”


AND WHAT WOULD IT MEAN PERSONALLY TO BE SELECTED?

“It would of course mean everything to me to be selected. You put so much hard work in over the whole Olympic cycle with the end goal being to compete in Rio. After London a lot of people expected me to retire or not be able to keep up turning 30 this year and that maybe other gymnasts would come through. I guess that was
a big motivation for me, to prove people wrong. Also after London I said I was disappointed to miss out on the final (placing 9th) and I train every day to not be in that position again if I make it to Rio. The honour of competing for Team GB is huge and something I am very proud to have done once and would love to do again
this summer.”