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Great Britain confirm women's team for World Artistic Gymnastics Championships

GB confirm women's team for World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
© Reuters
Great Britain confirm their five-strong women's team fot the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, including floor gold medallist Jessica Gadirova.

Great Britain have confirmed their five-strong women's team for the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

Following the final selection event at the end of August, GB have called up Jessica Gadirova, Ondine Achampong, Alice Kinsella, Georgia-Mae Fenton and Ruby Evans for the Championships, which take place from September 30 to October 8.

Four of the team comprised GB's silver-medal winning troupe at last year's World Championships, with the fifth member - Jennifer Gadirova - not involved this time around as she returns to full fitness following an injury.

Jessica Gadirova also heads into the World Championships aiming to defend her floor title, having become only the third British gymnast to win world gold on the apparatus alongside Beth Tweddle and Giarnni Regini-Moran.

"It's always a huge honour to be selected to represent Great Britain at a major championship and I'm looking forward to, once again, wearing the GB flag and competing against the world's best," Gadirova told the official British Gymnastics website.

"Last year's World Championships in Liverpool was one of my best gymnastics experiences and I'm excited to compete again with an amazing team and make some more special memories."

In addition, the 18-year-old took all-around bronze at the 2022 competition, before becoming European champion in the all-around and floor competitions earlier this year.

Great Britain celebrate winning women's team silver at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on November 1, 2022© Reuters

Meanwhile, Kinsella - the reigning all-around British champion - placed fourth in the event at last year's World Championships, before winning European silver on floor in April.

Despite finishing second in the women's uneven bars final at this year's Europeans, 31-year-old Becky Downie is only a reserve, as is 17-year-old Welsh protege Poppy-Grace Stickler, who was an alternate at last year's World Championships.

Instead, Evans has been added to the ranks for her senior international debut, having taken the gold medal in the women's vault final at the 2023 British Championships.

Tracy Whittaker-Smith, BG's Performance Director for Olympic Disciplines, added: "Following the final designated selection event we're delighted to announce the British women's team who will join our previously announced men's line up for the forth'coming artistic gymnastics World Championships.

"With Paris Olympic qualification already secured the teams travel to Antwerp with confidence following a hugely successful run of major championship events.

"The championships will give some of the newer faces a great learning experience whilst giving others a chance to once again prove themselves amongst the world's best."

The quintet will join the five-strong men's team of Max Whitlock, Courtney Tulloch, Jake Jarman, Harry Hepworth and James Hall for the 2023 World Championships.

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Ben Knapton

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Great Britain celebrate winning men's team bronze at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships on November 2, 2022
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