Nottingham gymnast Becky Downie appears to future after Paris medal miss

British gymnast Becky Downie is holding her head excessive regardless of lacking out on the medal she hoped for on the Paris Olympics.

The 32-year-old, from Nottingham, competed at her first video games since Rio 2016 and shone on the uneven bars within the girls’s qualifying gymnastics.

However within the group ultimate on the 30 July, she narrowly missed a group medal.

Regardless of her disappointment, she advised the BBC that the modifications she fought for within the sport meant “greater than any medal” and that she was trying ahead to a relaxation.

Ms Downie’s ultimate uneven bars routine was interrupted when she fell halfway by, however she rapidly recovered and accomplished it.

Talking about lacking out on the medal, she mentioned: “It is one thing that I’ve labored my complete life for, and I genuinely could not have felt any extra prepared for that day.

“I felt actually ready, coaching had been going rather well.”

She added: “Once I watched the replay, that is what I believe made it worse as a result of I did not actually really feel like I used to be off till I used to be off, and once I noticed the replay and my arms have been absolutely on the bar, I mentioned ‘I do not even know the way this has occurred’.”

However trying again at her performances all through the video games and being “again on a world stage”, Ms Downie was happy she might show she “wasn’t ever not good anymore”.

Her Olympic return had adopted a “tough” few years, for numerous causes. Ms Downie and her gymnast sister Ellie, misplaced their 24-year-old brother every week earlier than the Tokyo Olympic trials.

The pair’s particular person careers had additionally confronted “penalties” they didn’t count on, Ms Downie mentioned, after their whistleblowing about abuses in the sport – which ultimately helped to rework it.

“On the time, we did not fairly suppose it will include the results that it did, however 100% for each of us, we did not remorse the choice, and the modifications that we have now seen since and are persevering with to see are simply actually encouraging and actually constructive,” she mentioned.

To her and her sister – who have been each appointed MBEs for his or her companies to gymnastics and to gymnasts – these modifications meant “greater than some other medal might”, she added.

And regardless of lacking out on the medal, Ms Downie – a two-time Commonwealth Video games and three-time European Championship gold medal winner – mentioned she “loved each minute” of being a part of the occasion.

Now, although, after having spent not more than 4 to 6 weeks exterior of the gymnasium all through her total profession, Ms Downie mentioned she was trying ahead to “enjoyable and seeing what alternatives come up”.

She mentioned: “For future Becky, I actually wish to coach.

“Me and Ellie have spoken about – as long-term plans – about having our personal gymnasium.

“There’s plenty of cool concepts, and I really feel like I’ve a lot to provide again.”

Observe BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Ship your story concepts to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or through WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.