Road To Rio: Tinkler eyeing double success as she prepares to take on the Worlds

Tinkler was one of six female gymnasts named in Britain’s World Championships squad earlier this week, with the key event of the gymnastics calendar representing the major qualification opportunity ahead of next summer’s Games.

The 15-year-old, who is from Bishop Auckland and continues to train with the South Durham Gymnastics Club in Spennymoor, only stepped up to the senior ranks at the start of the year after celebrating a string of notable achievements as a junior.

She has already claimed the English and British all-around titles, and finished sixth on the floor when she made her European Championships debut in Montpellier in April.

This month’s Worlds, which take place at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow between October 23 and November 1, represent another major step up for the teenager, who is a former winner at The Northern Echo’s Local Heroes Awards.

However, having watched Tinkler excel at senior level already in the last 12 months, GB women’s national head coach, Amanda Reddin, is confident the North-Easterner is capable of taking the latest challenge in her stride.

Tinkler will be joined on the British team by four-time Commonwealth Games champion Claudia Fragapane, two-time European silver medallist Rebecca Downie, 2015 European all-around bronze medallist Ellie Downie, World University champion Kelly Simm and triple Commonwealth medallist Ruby Harrold.

She is the most inexperienced competitor in the squad – Ellie Downie is also making her World Championships debut, but has spent longer in the senior ranks – but her performances in the first half of the season mean she has more than justified her place on the team.

“For Amy and Ellie, this is their first World Championships, but both showed at the European Championships that they can excel at this level,” said Reddin. “The British girls are fully prepared and ready to aim for Rio.

“The girls we have selected blend a mix of great experience with some younger faces, who have already proved themselves in major championships.

“For Becky, Claudia, Ruby and Kelly, it’s a return to the Hydro Arena where they’ve all experienced great successes last summer – these girls all competed at last year’s World Championships, where the team placed sixth in China.

“We’re all excited to get to Glasgow and begin the competitions knowing that we will have amazing support from the home crowd, who can help give us that extra edge as we fight for Olympic places.”

In order to qualify for the team competition at the Olympics, Britain’s women must finish as one of the top eight teams in the qualification round at the Worlds. That will secure them a place in the World Championships final, and an automatic spot at Rio.

The qualifying draw has already been made, and Britain’s women’s team will be competing in subdivision four of qualification in Glasgow, which is scheduled for Friday, October 23. The men’s team will be in action on Sunday, October 25.

Tinkler’s individual performances in the team qualification will determine whether she makes any of the apparatus finals at the Worlds, with the floor generally regarded as her strongest discipline.

Four of Britain’s Olympic medal winners from London 2012 will compete in the six-strong men’s squad. World Championships all-around silver medallist Max Whitlock, triple Olympic medal winner Louis Smith and European floor champion Kristian Thomas will join Scot Daniel Purvis, European all-around junior champion Nile Wilson and English all-around champion Brinn Bevan on the team.

“The team reflects the great strides made by the Great Britain’s men’s gymnastics programme, with a real blend of experience and youth,” said GB men’s head national coach, Eddie van Hoof. “The primary aim for Glasgow is Rio qualification, but a home World Championships with the fantastic home crowd also gives extra motivation for individuals to really make their mark.”