Rebecca Tunney

Rebecca Tunney
— Gymnast —
Full name Rebecca Naomi Tunney
Nickname(s) Twiggy[1]
Country represented  Great Britain
 England
Born (1996-10-26) 26 October 1996
Ashton-under-Lyne, England, United Kingdom
Hometown Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Height 1.47 m (4 ft 10 in)
Weight 35 kg (77 lb)
Discipline Women's artistic gymnastics
Level Senior International Elite
Club City of Liverpool
Head coach(es) Claire Duffy
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
European Championships
2014 Sofia Team
Representing  England
Commonwealth Youth Games
2011 Isle of Man Team
2011 Isle of Man Vault
2011 Isle of Man Floor Exercise

Rebecca Tunney (born 26 October 1996) is a British artistic gymnast who competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2]

Personal Information

Tunney moved to the City of Liverpool gymnastics club when she was ten years old to train with coach, Claire Duffy. Duffy said, "She was tiny, quite scruffy and overwhelmed by the environment, but keen and excited to get in there and give it a go. When she first won a medal, you could see how she loved to train to win. She'd had a taste of medals and that was exactly what she wanted to do: she wanted to be a champion."[3]

Tunney formerly attended Droylsden Academy Secondary School. She said, "I've not been to school for quite a long time but they know why I'm away and where I'm going, they're supportive about everything and I sometimes take work with me."[3]

After formerly living in Manchester, it was felt with the 2016 Summer Olympics in mind, she should be based nearer to her gym. In September 2012, she moved to live in Liverpool with the family of her coach. She also switched schools, leaving Droylsden to join The Belvedere Academy. In an interview with The Guardian, Tunney said "After school I just walk down (to the City of Liverpool club) – it's only 10 minutes."[4]

Junior career

2010

At the end of April, Tunney competed at the 2010 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom. She contributed an all around score of 50.600 toward the British team's fifth-place finish.[5]

In July, Tunney competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom. She placed second in the all around competition with a score of 53.900. In event finals, she placed first on uneven bars scoring 13.750 and fifth on floor scoring 12.850. Tunney said, "I'm really happy. I got a bit nervous at times but I wanted to prove myself again after the Europeans and I think I've done that today."[6]

2011

In May, Tunney competed at the British Teams competition. She contributed an all around score of 50.450 to help City of Liverpool win first place.[7]

In July, Tunney competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom. She won the all around competition with a score of 54.850 and in event finals she placed first on uneven bars scoring 13.450, sixth on balance beam scoring 12.850, and first on floor scoring 13.900. "I wasn't expecting to win at all so I'm really pleased," Tunney said. "I've competed on podiums before and always find it such great experience and it was great having the support of my club here in its hometown. All the younger gymnasts from my club were able to watch and were cheering me on it was great."[8][9]

In September, Tunney competed for England at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man. She helped the English team place first and individually placed sixth in the all around final with a score of 50.30.[10] In event finals, she placed first on vault scoring 13.350, fifth on uneven bars scoring 12.300, and third on floor scoring 13.650.[11]

Senior career

2012

In January, Tunney competed at the London Prepares series where she placed nineteenth all around with a score of 54.399.[12] Also, she placed sixth in the uneven bars event finals with a score of 14.266.[13] Tunney said, "The atmosphere at the test event was really good. The reactions you got from the home crowd after routines were incredible. My mum went to the test event, and my grandma and grandpa went. They always say they're proud but I don't take it in – it's just me doing gymnastics. They obviously see it in a different way, as a major thing."[3]

In March, Tunney placed eighth at the American Cup in New York, United States with an all around score of 52.132.[14]

In May, Tunney competed at the 2012 European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Brussels, Belgium. After qualifications, Tunney said, "I competed at the 2010 junior Euros but that was nothing like here, with a full crowd, it was really great I enjoyed every minute of it. I've been working on the new vault, the Yurchenko double twist and it's paying off, I was really happy with that today."[15] In team finals, she competed on vault, uneven bars, and floor for the British team which placed fourth. "I had good performances all round and I'm really happy with how the team have done. I was nervous coming into this event but think I've coped really well. To make no mistakes in all my routines so far is brilliant, my floor has been solid all week so I'm looking forward to the final tomorrow."[16] In event finals, she finished fifth on floor with a score of 13.800.[17]

At the end of May, Tunney participated in the British Teams competition which acted as the first Olympic trial. She helped her club, City of Liverpool, win first place with the highest all around score of 56.550. In event finals, she placed second on vault scoring 14.750, first on uneven bars scoring 14.700, fifth on balance beam scoring 13.600, and second on floor scoring 13.500.[18]

At the beginning of June, Tunney competed at an international friendly with gymnasts from Finland and Spain in Ipswich, United Kingdom which was also the second Olympic trial. She won the all around competition with a score of 56.500.[19]

At the end of June, Tunney competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom. This is the third and final Olympic Trial to decide the gymnasts that will represent the United Kingdom at the Olympics. She won the all around competition with a score of 56.750.[20] She said, "It’s totally unexpected to win. The main focus with it being the Olympic trial was to stay clean and I thought if I did that I could get maybe in the top 5 but to win is incredible. The trials have all gone really well for me so it’s now just up to the selectors to decide what works best for the Olympics. The first year as a senior couldn’t have gone better really and I’m really enjoying competed in front of big crowds. Having won the junior title last year and moved straight up to win seniors is brilliant, I’m very happy."[21] In event finals, she placed second on uneven bars scoring 14.350,[22] fifth on balance beam scoring 13.550,[23] and fourth on floor scoring 13.500.[24]

At the beginning of July, Tunney was selected to compete for the United Kingdom at the 2012 Summer Olympics,[25] making her the youngest athlete for Team GB at London 2012.[26] After arriving in London, she said, “It’s been overwhelming, definitely, I wasn’t expecting it to be like this. I knew it was going to be big but this was more than I expected. But I’ve got all my team-mates to settle me down and talk me through things. Being in the village has been the best bit – how big it is, and seeing other athletes, great athletes, walking around. The others have tried to calm me down.”[27]

London Olympics

At the end of July, Tunney competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England where she was Team GB's youngest athlete at the games,[28] aged 15.[29] She helped the British team qualify in fifth place[30] and individually she qualified to the all around final with a score of 56.391.[31] Tunney said, "I went out thinking I should just enjoy my first Olympics and I really did. It was the most amazing thing I've ever done in my life. It was tense but the crowd were so supportive."[32] In the team final, Tunney contributed scores of 14.866 on vault and 14.766 on uneven bars toward the British team's sixth-place finish.[33] She said, "First Olympic Games and we're getting into the team final and finishing sixth, you can't ask for anything bigger. It was inspiring to see the men get a medal. They did their best yesterday and so did we, even though we didn't medal."[34] In the all around final, Tunney placed thirteenth with a score of 56.932.[35] She said, "It's been an amazing experience here in London; the best week of my life. To compete at a home Games in front of this crowd has been incredible. To be the youngest in Team GB I'm very proud and I've learnt so much. The rest of the Games I'm looking forward to the atmosphere and cheering on Team GB."[36]

2015

On 23 April, it was announced by the British Olympic Association that Tunney was to represent Great Britain at the first ever European Games alongside 2014 Commonwealth champion Kelly Simm and senior newcomer Tyesha Mattis,[37] although due to perpetual injuries with Tunney and a recent operation with Mattis they were both withdrawn from the competition and replaced by double 2014 Commonwealth bronze medalist Georgina Hockenhull and 2014 World Championships reserve athlete Charlie Fellows (gymnast).[38]

2016

Tunney was named alternate for the Rio games along with Kelly Simm and Gabby Jupp.

References

  1. ↑ "Meet Twiggy: Team GB's youngest athlete, Rebecca Tunney". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique : Gymnast Profiles". Fig-gymnastics.com. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Williams, Ollie (17 July 2012). "BBC Sport – Meet Twiggy: Team GB's youngest athlete, Rebecca Tunney". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Andy (1 December 2012). "Education and dedication smooth Rebecca Tunney's road to Rio". www.guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/euro/2010/wag/junwagteams.pdf
  6. ↑ "International Gymnast Magazine Online – Whelan, Mitchell Win British Championships". Intlgymnast.com. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "International Gymnast Magazine Online – Whelan, Tweddle Lead Liverpool to Victory". Intlgymnast.com. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "International Gymnast Magazine Online – Host Liverpool Dominates British Championships". Intlgymnast.com. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "2011 Women's British Championships". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  10. ↑ "International Gymnast Magazine Online – English Teams Win Commonwealth Youth Games". Intlgymnast.com. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "International Gymnast Magazine Online – England Takes Five More Titles as CWYG End". Intlgymnast.com. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  12. ↑ http://www.londonpreparesseries.com/documents/gymnastics/results/day-2/womens-team-and-mixed-results.pdf
  13. ↑ http://www.londonpreparesseries.com/documents/gymnastics/results/day-3/womens-uneven-bars-final-apparatus.pdf
  14. ↑ http://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_12ac_final.pdf
  15. ↑ "2012 WAG Euros – Day two, senior qualification". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "2012 WAG Euros – Day four, senior team finals". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  17. ↑ http://figfront.lx2.sportcentric.com/system/files/5489/original/ECh_WAG_Brussels_Results_Book.pdf?1336985168
  18. ↑ "Downloads | Results | Women's Artistic | Disciplines". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  19. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7236/Results_-_All_Around_Competiton.pdf
  20. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Seniors_All-Around.pdf
  21. ↑ "Rebecca Tunney crowned British champion". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  22. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Uneven_Bars_Final.pdf
  23. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Beam_Final.pdf
  24. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Floor_Final.pdf
  25. ↑ "18 gymnasts selected to Team GB for 2012 Olympics". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  26. ↑ "Meet Twiggy: Team GB's youngest athlete, Rebecca Tunney".
  27. ↑ Gymnastics (25 July 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: Rebecca Tunney's emergence guarantees smooth transition as end nears for Beth Tweddle". Telegraph. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  28. ↑ John, Emma (27 July 2012). "London 2012: gymnast Rebecca Tunney will not shrink from Olympic test". guardian.co.uk. The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  29. ↑ "'This is the best experience of my life': Britain's youngest Olympian, 15, who can't wait for a shot at gymnastics gold". dailymail.co.uk. Daily Mail. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  30. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/qual_wag_team.pdf
  31. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/qual_wag_aa_q.pdf
  32. ↑ "Tweddle delivers stunning bars routine to edge closer to elusive Olympic medal". Daily Mail.
  33. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/wag_team_f.pdf
  34. ↑ "2012 Olympic Games- Women's Team Final". British-gymnastics.org. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  35. ↑ http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/fin_wag_aa.pdf
  36. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2735:2012-olympic-games-women-s-all-around-final&catid=321&Itemid=770
  37. ↑ http://www.british-gymnastics.org/news-and-events/news/latest-news/4741-boa-announces-athletes-selected-for-2015-european-games
  38. ↑ https://twitter.com/BritGymnastics/status/605349621347590144
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