Four-time Commonwealth Games champion Claudia Fragapane is just one of number of English names who will return to Glasgow’s Hydro Arena for the World Gymnastics Championships.

Fragapane made history in Scotland last summer when she became the first English woman in 84 years to win four golds at a Commonwealth Games.

Now aged 17, she is one of a six-strong Great Britain female team for the 2015 World Championships which run from October 23 to November 1.

Joining her are fellow England team all around gold winners Rebecca Downie, Kelly Simm and Ruby Harrold while Ellie Downie and Amy Tinkler also get the nod.

Great Britain women’s head national coach Amanda Reddin said: “The girls we have selected blend a mix of great experience with some younger faces who have already proven themselves in major championships.

“For Becky, Claudia, Ruby and Kelly it’s a return to the Hydro Arena where they’ve all experienced great successes last summer, these girls all competed at last year’s World Championships where the team placed 6th in China.

“For Amy and Ellie this is their first World Championships but both showed at the European Championships that they can excel at this level.

“We’re all excited to get to Glasgow and begin the competitions knowing that we will have amazing support from the home crowd who can help give us that extra edge as we fight for Olympic places.”

There are also plenty of Commonwealth Games medal winners in the six-strong men’s team with  England all-around gold medallists Louis Smith, Kristian Thomas, Max Whitlock and Nile Wilson named alongside Scot Daniel Purvis and English all-around champion Brinn Bevan.

© Sportsbeat 2015

 
07.10.2015 Smith and Tiler named in GB team for World Champs

image: http://www.weareengland.org/image-cache/Zoe%20Smith_[2210]_465_235_0.jpg

Zoe Smith

Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion Zoe Smith admits she will be looking for a personal best performance after being named in the team for the 2015 World Championships.

Smith took the -58kg title in Glasgow last year after managing 118kg in the clean and jerk to set a Games record of 210kg.

However illness and injuries have restricted her progress since with next month’s competition in Houston, America from November 20-28 representing her first major international since the Commonwealth Games.

"My focus, first and foremost will be on giving my all and improving my personal bests," said Smith.

She is named as part of an eight-strong team, with Britain’s youngest ever senior champion Rebekah Tiler – fourth at Glasgow 2014 and winner of gold at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa – also on the team.

Emily Godley, Sarah Davies and Mercy Brown make up the remainder of the women’s team while Gareth Evans, Jack Oliver and Sonny Webster will go in the men’s competition.

British Weightlifting performance director Tommy Yule said: "The competition provides an exceptional opportunity for our athletes to amass greater experience of competing on the international stage in advance of next year's Olympic Games."

© Sportsbeat 2015


Read more at http://www.weareengland.org/home/news/smith-and-tiler-named-in-gb-team-for-world-champs?returnlink=home/news%3fsitesectionid%3d115%26sitesectiontitle%3dNews#KivvAmRZMcfb0C0f.99
 
07.10.2015 Smith and Tiler named in GB team for World Champs

image: http://www.weareengland.org/image-cache/Zoe%20Smith_[2210]_465_235_0.jpg

Zoe Smith

Commonwealth Games weightlifting champion Zoe Smith admits she will be looking for a personal best performance after being named in the team for the 2015 World Championships.

Smith took the -58kg title in Glasgow last year after managing 118kg in the clean and jerk to set a Games record of 210kg.

However illness and injuries have restricted her progress since with next month’s competition in Houston, America from November 20-28 representing her first major international since the Commonwealth Games.

"My focus, first and foremost will be on giving my all and improving my personal bests," said Smith.

She is named as part of an eight-strong team, with Britain’s youngest ever senior champion Rebekah Tiler – fourth at Glasgow 2014 and winner of gold at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa – also on the team.

Emily Godley, Sarah Davies and Mercy Brown make up the remainder of the women’s team while Gareth Evans, Jack Oliver and Sonny Webster will go in the men’s competition.

British Weightlifting performance director Tommy Yule said: "The competition provides an exceptional opportunity for our athletes to amass greater experience of competing on the international stage in advance of next year's Olympic Games."

© Sportsbeat 2015


Read more at http://www.weareengland.org/home/news/smith-and-tiler-named-in-gb-team-for-world-champs?returnlink=home/news%3fsitesectionid%3d115%26sitesectiontitle%3dNews#KivvAmRZMcfb0C0f.99