Gymnasts chosen to represent Great Britain

8:41am Monday 12th May 2008

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FOUR gymnasts with disabilities, along with their coach, have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Uzbekistan National Special Olympic Games to be held in Tashkent next month.

It will be the first time the former soviet republic has invited disability gymnasts to compete within its borders and Crewe's Cheshire Academy has managed to gain selection for rhythmic as well as artistic gymnast on the team.

Also selected is coach and co-director Jane Whetnall who will be one of the only two UK coaches to coach and train the squad whilst they are in Tashkent.

Representing the UK at rhythmic gymnastics will be 12-year-old Felicity Martin who lives in Wistaston.

Her coaches Jheni Weir and Jenny Wilson said: "The Rhythmic Gymnastics routines have all recently been rewritten and a lot of work has had to go into practicing and perfecting these modern and difficult routines."

Kirsty Robertson, aged 13, and Tracey Jones, aged 14, will be performing routines on the beam, bars, vault and floor.

Both gymnasts did well at the recent Jersey Special Olympic Games against some of the UK's best gymnasts and they have high hopes of collecting a few medals in Tashkent.

Jonathan Potter, aged 26, will be competing on the single bar, parallel bars, pommels, vault, rings and floor.

He has previously represented Britain at the World Special Olympic Games held in Dublin during 2003 returning with an All Round Champion title.

British Team coach Jane Whetnall was confident that the Cheshire Academy gymnasts are the ideal athletes to represent Britain at these games.

She said: "The gymnasts are not only wonderful ambassadors for the sport but also for the Cheshire Academy and Crewe and Nantwich Borough as a whole.

"The gymnasts have trained for years to attain the skills to enable them to compete at a world level and I have every confidence that they will do well and shine on a world stage."

Academy director Iain Chalmers was pleased with the Academy's success but is concerned about the costs.

He said: "To achieve this accolade is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff and gymnasts at the Academy over very many years, however it will cost the Academy over £4,000 to send the team.

"We have to pay for accommodation and flights and all the rhythmic gymnastics equipment leotards and kit must be specially colour coordinated.

"We have also arranged additional training and will perhaps have to stay in London overnight before we fly out.

"We would welcome the assistance of any companies or individuals who could help with sponsorship."