After collar bone and hand injuries last June which resulted in a period of restricted training and limited time to learn new skills, Ben (Year 12) staged a come-back to qualify for both the English (Telford) and the British Gymnastics Championships (Liverpool) with his club, Erewash Valley Gymnastics Club.
At the English, he strategically chose routines which he knew he could do clean to gain high execution marks. He placed a brilliant 14th out of a field of 27 in the Under 18 category, which is something which we thought wouldn’t have been possible some months before. Strongest pieces were the Parallel Bars (10th), Pommel (12th) and High Bar (12th). At the previous English Championships in the spring of 2025, he had placed 29th (out of 35) so definite progress shown here despite the injuries the previous year.
Doing so well at the English qualified Ben to go to the British and Ben had planned routines with higher difficulty levels. Gymnasts in this competition are selected from the best Under 18’s in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales – future Olympians are in this group, so it’s a real honour. However, having sustained rips to his hand during training and ongoing niggles with the knee, hip and ankle, the competition was to test Ben’s resilience and determination. The knee was strapped and the ankle was iced. The hand was treated and re-strapped several times during the competition meaning some warm up time on apparatus had to be missed. Despite the pain and frustration of not being able to use his hand properly, Ben continued with the competition completing all six pieces to place 31st out of 35 gymnasts. Not the result he’d been hoping for but a valiant demonstration of grit and perseverance and making the most of the opportunity to do gymnastics on a national stage… and he finished higher than the previous year which had been 35th out of 45.
Ben was back in the gym almost straight away, working on new skills over the next 12 months to hopefully qualify again for the last year of Under 18’s at the English and British Championships in 2027. It’s not all about the competitions for Ben though, the enjoyment and challenge to master complicated routines is a large part of it, as well as the relationships that he’s built with his fellow club gymnasts and coaches, and mentoring those coming up through the ranks behind him. It can be a journey of highs and lows, learning to accept the rough with the smooth, controlling what can be controlled and accepting what cannot, but knowing that you’ve done your best.
