Becky and ellie downie
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“In terms of Becky, and the additional opportunity we put on for her due to tragic circumstances: we worked with Becky to offer that opportunity, and it was not a forced opportunity.
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I’m very confident the team were considered on their gymnastic merits and nothing else. “There is no athlete who was viewed in any other light around speaking out over the last 12 months that impacted on selection. Is it just a coincidence that Becky and Ellie spoke up against abuse?”Įarlier, Thomas had stood by the decision. “ absolutely zero humanity involved in that final ‘trial.’ For Becky to produce anything at all under those circumstances is beyond incredible, let alone to produce decent scores, and still not even be considered. “To leave out a potential Olympic medallist is one thing, but, regardless of this decision, the way Becky has been treated by BG is horrifying,” Rippin said. That belief is shared by former British gymnast and European silver medallist Niamh Rippin. “We’re often concerned that British Gymnastics prioritises podiums over people, but with Becky having criticised the culture in British gymnastics just last year, it’s hard not to assume that their motivation in effectively ending Becky Downie’s career is a sinister warning to those who might speak out in future.” In a statement seen by the Star, Gymnasts for Change said: “As a veteran of two Olympic teams and the captain of both Rio and World Championships squads, it is incomprehensible why the bars specialist has been dropped in a year she achieved a 6.8 SV in training in what has been touted as one of the most difficult routines in the world. Though British Gymnastics performance director James Thomas was forced to deny the accusation and defend decision, Gymnasts for Change said that it was “hard not to assume” there was a darker reason behind Downie’s omission.
#BECKY AND ELLIE DOWNIE TRIAL#
Sources close to Downie said she was left broken by the news, which came less than a month after the sudden death of her brother Josh.ĭownie, a former world silver medallist on the uneven bars, was granted an extra chance to impress at a specially arranged trial following the family tragedy but failed to do enough to convince the selection panel. CAMPAIGN group Gymnasts for Change has slammed the decision to omit Becky Downie from the four-strong British women’s team for next month’s Tokyo Olympics, believing it is a “sinister warning to those who might speak out in future.”