At day one of the 2014 European Championships Great Britain made history when they won their first ever junior team medal, placing second to Russia. The seniors team competition begins tomorrow, May 15th, with qualifications and the team final takes place on Saturday.



Two-time Olympian Hannah Whelan says the British senior girls’ team are in good shape and aiming to be amongst the medals at this week’s European Championships. Hannah, one of the most experienced members of the GBR gymnastics team, says the girls are well positioned and well prepared as they look to compete for a team medal for the first time since winning silver in Birmingham 2010.
 

Having taken European Championships beam and floor bronze in 2012 Hannah is focusing on the team results firstly in Sofia, saying: “The group of girls we have now is really close. My priority for these Championships is the team 100%; it’s a team competition and we're aiming high this year. I think at the back of our minds we are all aiming for the team final and hopefully a place on the medal podium, if anything else comes individually for me then that’s a bonus.”
 

Hannah, from the City of Liverpool gymnastics club, has been a mainstay of the British team having competed at the Beijing and London Olympics.
 

Recent changes to the GBR set up have seen her former personal coach Amanda Reddin take over as National Coach as well as club-mate Beth Tweddle retire, as she explains: “The whole group dynamic at the GBR squad and back home at the City of Liverpool have changed.  My teammates from the 2012 Olympics Beth Tweddle and Jenni Pinches have retired and of course Amanda has now become the National Coach. It’s very different, but it’s been over a year now and everyone is very comfortable and very happy; the group of girls we have now are really close and things are going well. My preparations have been going well for Sofia and I’m confident I can do the job for the team.”

 

The British’s senior girls – Hannah, Rebecca Tunney, Rebecca Downie, Claudia Fragapane and Ruby Harrold - begin their competition in Sofia on Thursday with the qualifications, aiming to make Saturdays team final and Sunday individual apparatus finals.

Via British Gymnastics