Eight Go To Gold Coast 2018
Eight artistic gymnasts are among the Team Scotland selections announced at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum today for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
World and Olympic medallist Dan Purvis and reigning British floor champion, Frank Baines are the returning members of the team which won a historic silver medal in the team event at Glasgow 2014.
They are joined by 2017 Scottish All-Around champion Kelvin Cham, double British Championship medallist Hamish Carter, and David Weir, who took seven medals at last year’s Scottish Championships including two gold.
After a fifth place in the team event in Glasgow 2014, Cara Kennedy leads a women’s trio which includes Shannon Archer, who took four gold, including the all-around title, at the 2017 Scottish Championships and Scottish uneven bars champion, Isabella Tolometti.
Dan Purvis said: “I was so proud and relieved to win the full set of medals in Glasgow, especially with it being a home Games. The biggest medal for me though was the team silver. I felt so proud standing on the podium with my team-mates having created history for Scottish Gymnastics. It’s something I’ll never forget.
“I’m so excited looking forward to the Gold Coast Games. It’s a huge opportunity to show my gymnastics to the world and as the senior team member this time, I hope I can help the others enjoy the occasion, do as well as possible, and hopefully come away with a medal or two between us.”
Speaking about being selected for her first Games, Izzy Tolometti said: “I can’t quite believe it. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet. We started working towards this after the last games and the last year has been really intense tyring to get scores. Going through that and sacrificing what I’ve had to, such as not getting to see as much of my friends as I’d like to because of training, it’s great to be selected.
“I’m excited to get there and will absorb the whole atmosphere and enjoy experience, appreciate every minute of it and hope to do well for the team.”
David missed out on potential selection previously when the age criteria changed from 16 to 18, but he was involved in Glasgow 2014 Achieve programme. He said:
“I got to go to Glasgow and watch three or four different sports and see what its like to be at a Games and we also went to the Scotland team after party but I I think it is going to be quite different in Australia!
"I feel like all the hard work over the last four years has really paid off. The focus is now on building on routines and being consistent within the team.”
Speaking about today’s selection announcement, Jamie Bowie, Scottish Gymnastics Performance Manager, said: “Congratulations to the eight gymnasts selected, their personal coaches, clubs and all those that have played an important role in their development.
"In the last thirteen months, since qualification opened for the Gold Coast 2018 Games, we have had a number of gymnasts with their coaches aim high and rise to the challenge of qualifying. It’s been fantastic to watch their journey through the National Performance Programme.
"In total we had 12 gymnasts who had met the standards to be nominated, with 10 of those gymnasts being nominated for Team Scotland’s consideration. Under the new CGF quota system, Team Scotland have selected eight gymnasts to compete at Gold Coast. It is important to highlight and commend the effort and hard work of those who weren’t successful in being selected. I can empathise with them, but it is important to set their next targets.
“The Scottish Championship mark an important part of the team’s preparations for the stage in Australia – a great opportunity for the gymnastics community to get behind the team and cheer them on.”
Since this article was published, Sofia Ramzan has been selected too by Team Scotland – full story here and Ellie Russell has also strengthened the team – full story here.
The Gymnasts selected by Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018
Shannon Archer
Age: 19
Club: City of Glasgow
Coach: Sandra Stevenson
Frank Baines
Age: 22
Club: Southport Gymnastics Club
Coach: Jeff Brooks
Commonwealth Games representation: 2014 – silver medal (team)
Hamish Carter
Age: 19
Club: City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club
Coach: Lee Woolls
Kelvin Cham
Age: 19
Club: City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club
Coach: Marius Gherman
Cara Kennedy
Age: 20
Club: City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club
Coach: Sandra Stevenson
Commonwealth Games representation: 2014
Daniel Purvis
Age: 27
Club: Southport Gymnastics Club
Coach: Jeff Brooks
Commonwealth Games representation: 2014 – gold medal (parallel bars), silver medal (team), bronze medal (rings)
Izzy Tolometti
Age: 18
Club: Garioch Gymnastics Club
Coaches: Cathy Osborne & Janine Robertson
David Weir
Age: 19
Club: City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club
Coach: Marius Gherman
Sofia Ramzan
Age: 17
Club: Dundee Gymnastics Club 2K
Coach: Bea Peterson
Ellie Russell
Age: 15
Club: West Lothian Artistic Gymnastics Club
Coach: Sandy Richardson
They will be accompanied by:
Jamie Bowie, Gymnastics Team Manager
Marius Gherman, Lead Coach, Men’s Artistic
Paul Hall, Coach, Men's Artistic
Sandra Stevenson, Lead Coach, Women’s Artistic