Team Tuesday

Team GB?

With the British Championships a mere 4 days away, tension must surely be building as the gymnasts prepare to impress at the final Olympic trial. With a home Olympics and only 5 spots up for grabs, the stakes have never been higher. Nor has the amount of talent in the GB squad.

Only months ago the girls proved that they were the 5th best team in the world in the Tokyo 2011 World Championships. European success followed earlier this year in the 2012 European Championships in Brussels with 2 bronze medals for Hannah Whelan, on beam and floor, and 3 gymnasts making apparatus finals. What's more, this team consisted of two first year seniors making their debut at a major international championships, with two experienced gymnasts (including Beth Tweddle) out with injury.

So where does such depth of talent leave us when it comes to choosing the Olympic team?

With such outstanding success and a real hope of a medal, Beth Tweddle has to be seen as the first member of the team. Hannah Whelan's recent form and her overall achievements must make her pretty much a definite. First year senior Rebecca Tunney has such an amazing run of achievements over the last few months, posting consistently high All Around scores, I personally believe that she should definitely secure a place to the games.

So suddenly, there are only 2 places left. And what a battle it will be to take one of these places. With at least 5 major contenders for the last two spots, tension and nerves are bound to be running high this weekend.

As well as Beth Tweddle, Hannah Whelan and Rebecca Tunney, you should also look out for Becky Downie, Danusia Francis, Jenni Pinches, Imogen Cairns, and Ruby Harrold who will all be trying to impress.

The British Championships can be seen live online on BGtv via the British Gymnastics website: http://new.livestream.com/bgtvgymnastics 

Saturday 23rd June

Men's seniors 12.00 - 15.00

Women's seniors 19.00 - 20.30

Sunday 24th June

Men's and women's apparatus finals 10.30 - 12.10 and 14.00 - 16.00