When British Gymnastics hosted the first-ever Paragymnastics trial at the British Championships in Liverpool, it was hailed a resounding success.
The event was a culmination of work by British Gymnastics to complete their 2023 pledge to help establish international competition for disability gymnastics.
Disability gymnastics took place across two days at the M&S Bank Arena, with Warrington’s Lily Heather-Maskill stealing the show on the first day as she won four gold medals.
Dom Elsom, event director at British Gymnastics, said: “The event helped us and those supporting the development of this discipline to test and better understand the Paragymnastics rules that are being developed by World Gymnastics following their recognition of Paragymnastics as an official discipline last year.
“The 13 gymnasts who took part in the event showcased some truly inspiring gymnastics, and were a credit to themselves, their clubs and their families, and are true trailblazers of the discipline.”
Tim Peake, from British Gymnastics, said: “The Paragymnastics trial event held in Liverpool was an historic moment on that journey that will help to shape the future of our sport for disabled people.
“We are proud to have been at the forefront of driving an international movement with the ambition for Paragymnastics to become a Paralympic sport, reflecting all three of our shared values for gymnastics in Britain of inclusive, supportive and aspirational.”
Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy director Jay Scouler believes more can be done to push the international efforts, saying: “I would like to see disability go international.
“I’ve been trying with British Gymnastics to allow them to sanction a Great Britain disability team, but it seems that right now the strategic plan is to look for para gymnastics for floor-based gymnastic activity which is great!
“But from a trampoline perspective we’ve had disability activity going on for a long time and I don’t think it will take much to be able to organise a disability squad and to allow that squad to go and compete to open international competitions
“I think we can and should be taking teams abroad to compete internationally.”
Scouler also pointed out that the marketing of the event seemed odd, as trampoline gymnastics have been running disability championships for some time.
He added: “It was great initiative, great to see another discipline following in the footsteps of trampoline.
“I think the more disability activity, the more inclusion that we have for disabilities, the better across the whole of gymnastics.
“Not just in trampoline as we’ve done historically or now the inclusion of artistic gymnastics.”
Focus now shifts to the British Disability Trampoline Gymnastics championship in Telford in October.
(Featured image by Ed Cartmell)
