Sportsister meets Beth Tweddle

August 12, 2024

What do I talk to Britain’s most decorated female gymnast about first? Would it be her retirement announcement last week? Would it be winning an Olympic medal or her numerous European and World titles? Or maybe the launch of her new academy Total Gymnastics – the first Olympic-led legacy programme?

“I’m doing Europe’s longest zip-wire in a few weeks time and I can’t wait for it!” she tells me with a bursting smile. So apparently none of the above, instead we lose ourselves gossiping about her new found freedom and all the excitement she feels for her next big adventure. “Oh and skydiving and para-sailing are definitely on my to-do list too!”

It seems that despite Beth Tweddle announcing her retirement from professional gymnastics just seven days ago, the decision has not lessened her desire for a challenge! I shouldn’t be surprised, it was evident last year too just weeks after competing in the London Olympics, a time when most of the British athletes were on a period of rest and reflection, the 28 year old was taking part in the television show Dancing On Ice, which, of course, she won.

“I needed a period of time after the Olympics where I could find out in my heart whether or not I could continue with gymnastics and give that full commitment that it needs, so when I got offered Dancing On Ice it was perfect, I just threw myself into it.

“I loved every minute of it, there was so much to learn and it has given me a lot more confidence outside of my sport. It showed me a different world with so much more freedom, but still offered me challenges and I always need that.”

So what happened next?

“After the show I was invited to do a lot of work in schools with young kids. I loved to inspire them and put a smile on their faces through my sport so I decided that I was swaying in that direction with my life.”

Prior to London 2012, Beth had dismissed any possibility of competing at Rio in 2016, and rumours of a potential retirement for Britain’s most successful female gymnast had begun to circulate.

“The last thing I wanted to do was announce before London that it was to be my last competition. There was enough pressure in itself anyway to pick up a medal, I didn’t want to put anything on top of that. I just knew I couldn’t walk into that final thinking ‘this is the last ever bar routine that you’re ever going to do’, so I didn’t tell anyone.”

Walking away from what would be her final competition, a home Olympic Games with a long awaited medal around her neck, was an achievement even more sweet for Beth having suffered such disappointment in Beijing. An experience she describes as the darkest of her career.

“Beijing was a massive low point I went out there with one dream to pick up an Olympic medal and I finished fourth by 0.25 points so it was the biggest and hardest disappointment I’ve ever had to deal with.

“It was so much more special to wait until London, it was pure relief winning that bronze medal! Now I can end on a high.”

beth-tweddle-academy-1

And so Beth begins the next stage of her career, hoping to inspire a new generation of British gymnasts to follow in her footsteps through her Beth Tweddle Academy. Officially opening in September, it will form part of a national programme to provide the opportunity for as many children as possible to take up gymnastics, within schools, leisure centres and clubs to help develop the sport around the country.

“I want to give every child an opportunity to try gymnastics. I had to try a lot of sports before I found gymnastics; they might love it, they might hate it, but at least we’ve given them the opportunity to try.”

And as an Olympic bronze medallist, three-time world champion, six-time European champion and seven-time national champion, what better role model could these kids have?

Lizzie Flint, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

gymnastics

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Sportsister meets Beth Tweddle

Select a sport

Select a sport

Blogs

Sportsister meets Beth Tweddle

You may like

Select a sport

Select a sport

Blogs