British gymnasts will be looking to continue their good form as the 2022 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships get underway in Liverpool.
The city will host 550 world class gymnasts in the M&S Bank Arena between Oct 29-Nov 6 who will compete for world Championship honours. Gymnasts from 75 countries will be hoping to make their nation proud.
The British team is looking strong following a successful year in both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.
GB women will be striving for a team medal after they secured gold at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships silver.
The men’s team are also strong contenders for a podium spot after landing gold at both the Europeans and Commonwealth Games.
With an average age of 19 years 5 months, the young women’s team will be looking for individuals honours too. Alice Kinsella and Georgia-Mae Fenton are both medal contenders with Kinsella in floor and Fenton on the uneven bars. Meanwhile, 18-year-old, twins Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova will be fighting for a medal with club teammate Ondine Achampong.
The means team will be without six times Olympic medallist Max Whitlock following the announcement that he is taking time away from the sport for mental health reasons.
Joe Fraser is one to look out for in the men’s squad after a sensational Commonwealth Games in his hometown of Birmingham, coming out with three gold medals. And young hopeful Jake Jarman will not go down without a battle as he will be looking to add to his collection of medals, including the four golds he picked up at the Commonwealths.
James Hall, Giarnni Regini-moran and Courtney Tulloch are also included in the men’s team with Tulloch looking hopeful for a high spot in the rings to add to the men’s collective of medals.
The opening ceremony starts at 19:55 (GMT) on Saturday but Great Britain debut in the competition on Sunday with the women finishing the day off in subdivision 10 at 21:45.
The men’s first appearance will be on day three in subdivision 2 with China, Kazakhstan and Korea Republic starting at 11:30.
Day four will see the team finals where a podium sport looks promising for the women alongside the US favourites. Day five is the decider for the men who will also be looking to walk away from the team event with a medal. Making podium will guarantee any team a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
All-around competitions take place on days six and seven, where Fraser will be searching for his space in the top three. With USA’s five-time world champion Simone Biles not competing in the championships, there is a guaranteed new world champion this year.
Jarman will be visualizing a top spot-on floor for the first individual event of the nine days. Fraser and Hall are also on the cards for final spots on the pommel. Rings has been a strong event for Tulloch this year and he will be anticipating being not only in the finals but on a podium position. Women’s vault and women’s bars also take place on day eight, where Fenton will be feeling confident for a medal worthy performance on the uneven bars.
After being named 2021 European Gymnastics Gymnast of the year, Jessica Gadirova will be looking to add a World Championship medal to her 2022 European gold medal. Achampong will show what she has to offer on floor after her Commonwealth Games silver medal. Beam has consistently looked like a secure apparatus for Kinsella throughout 2022 and she will be counting on repeat performances on day nine.
Parallel bars is a solid piece for the British men where Fraser, Hall and Regini-Moran are all capable of making the finals and medals to be taken away. Regini-Moran and Jarman will both be competing for spots in the finals of the men’s vault where Jarman never seems to struggle on his performance. Men’s high bar is also involved in day nine where Hall will try and make a standout performance.
With many potential medals possibilities, both the men’s and women’s Great Britain squads are preparing to give the same exceptional performances they have done so far this year.
