Team Wales gymnasts for GC2018 announced

Commonwealth Games Wales and Welsh Gymnastics are proud to announce that a team of 13 gymnasts has been selected to compete for their country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Rhythmic, Women’s Artistic and Men’s Artistic Gymnastics.

The Welsh Rhythmic Gymnasts travelling to Australia are Laura Halford, Gemma Frizelle and Abigail Hanford.

The Welsh Men’s Artistic Gymnasts competing at Gold Coast are Jac Davies, Iwan Mepham, Clinton Purnell, Josh Cook and Benjamin Eyre.

The Women’s Artistic Gymnasts representing Team Wales are Maisie Methuen, Emily Thomas, Latalia Bevan, Jolie Ruckley and Holly Jones.

The youngest members of the Welsh Commonwealth gymnastics team are fifteen-year-old Abigail Hanford from Llanelli, and Jolie Ruckley from Cardiff, also fifteen. 2018 is the first year that both gymnasts will compete at a senior level.

Helen Phillips, Chair of the Commonwealth Games Wales Board said: “I’d like to congratulate the 13 talented gymnasts who have been selected for Team Wales at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. They have worked extremely hard, with the support of their clubs, their personal coaches, national coaches and their national governing body to get here. We we wish them the very best when they compete at the Games in a few weeks’ time.

“With only 40 days to go until the opening ceremony in Gold Coast, today’s announcement completes Team Wales’ athlete selection for individual sports, and we look forward to confirming the squad members for team sports very shortly.”

Jo Coombs, Head of Performance and Excellence at Welsh Gymnastics, said: ‘We are thrilled that so many of our gymnast are flying out to Australia to represent their country. This team announcement is the culmination of four years of hard work, dedication and commitment and we couldn’t be prouder of all who have been chosen to compete at the games.

Jo added: “Glasgow 2014 was a pivotal moment for Welsh Gymnastics, as it was our most successful games ever, bringing home ten medals. It is also a testament to our centralised elite squad programme in Cardiff, that nearly all of the female gymnasts chosen to represent Wales are from that programme. We wish them all well and can’t wait to see what the Welsh Gymnastics’ 2018 Commonwealth Games team achieve.”

Laura Halford, Jac Davies, Iwan Mepham and Clinton Purnell were part of the Welsh gymnastics team at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Laura won team silver and individual bronze in the all-around and ball competitions in Glasgow.