Interviews

Minsk 2019: Russia’s Angelina Melnikova the smiling star of European Games apparatus finals

by Clive Morgan -
Angelina Melnikova

Angelina Melnikova was the star of the artistic gymnastics show walking away with three medals, one gold and two silver, in the apparatus finals. From the moment she started on vault, the Russian gymnast looked calm and as she began winning her medal, the smiles got bigger, there were giggles and

Minsk 2019: Ait Said driven in European Games medal quest by promise to his late father

by Clive Morgan -
Samir Ait Said

Samir Ait Said is determined to win a medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games so he can fulfil a promise that he made to his late father. So far, the French gymnast is living up to the challenge after finishing first in rings in the men's qualifications. "I have not been

Minsk 2019 European Games: Great Britain’s Becky Downie pacing herself for success against younger rivals

by Clive Morgan -
Becky Downie

At 27 years old, Becky Downie believes it is all about pacing herself as she competes with women as much as 10 years her junior at the Minsk 2019 European Games. For example, the leader at the end of the women's individual all-around qualifications, Russia’s Angelina Melnikova, is just 18 years

Minsk 2019 European Games: Uladzislau Hancharou to get extra bounce from home advantage

by Clive Morgan -
Uladzislau Hancharou

Rio 2016 Olympics champion Uladzislau Hancharou is the favourite to jump to the top of the podium when he bounces at the second European Games. Having won the silver medal in the men's individual competition at Baku 2015, Hancharou is hoping to go one better and will be cheered on by

Amy Tinkler driven to overcome injuries by thoughts of Tokyo 2020

by Clive Morgan -
Amy Tinkler

As the youngest member of the Great Britain team at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Amy Tinkler danced her way to an unexpected bronze medal aged just 16. Her medal in the women's floor competition earned plaudits and the promise of a bright and high-profile future. But post-Rio 2016, Tinkler has suffered

Simone Biles: Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be my last

by Clive Morgan -
Simone Biles

Simone Biles has revealed that next year's Tokyo Olympics “will be her last”. The 22-year-old, who last year, in Qatar, became the first woman to win four all-around world titles, is adamant there is no chance of extending her extraordinary reign beyond next year. Referring to a series of relatively minor injuries

Great Britain’s Ellie Downie to defend all-around European title in Poland

by Clive Morgan -
Ellie Downie

Ellie Downie will defend her individual all-around title at the European Gymnastics Championships in Poland next month. The 19-year-old became the first British gymnast to win a major all-around gold in Cluj in 2017 but was subsequently hit by a serious foot injury. Her inclusion in the four-strong women's squad is a

Great Britain’s Dan Purvis retires

by Clive Morgan -
Great Britain gymnast Dan Purvis

Great Britain gymnast Dan Purvis has announced his retirement from competitive gymnastics. The 28-year-old bowed out by captaining Team Scotland at Gold Coast last year, when he won two bronze medals to take his total number of Commonwealth Games trophies to five, including one gold. He said: "It's a surreal feeling retiring.