Tim Champion, aged 13, is celebrating an individual bronze medal and a south west team silver medal at the 2008 British Gymnastics Championships held in Newcastle. His individual podium finish at Intermediate 1 level came after completing seven disciplines – floor, parallel bars, high bar, pommel, vault, rings and physical preparation – gaining an overall score of 62.900. The south west team scored a cumulative 234.100.
A Year 9 sports scholar at Plymouth College, Tim, who lives near Torpoint, qualified for the national event after becoming U16 Devon Champion at the end of March. He took up gymnastics at the age of 9 and has been doing competitive gymnastics for more than three years. He has previously been part of the Great Britain junior training squad and was selected to train with British coach, Barry Collie, in Exeter during the Easter holidays.
A jubilant Tim said: “I’m really pleased to have done so well at the Nationals. Obviously there were some really strong competitors taking part so I was delighted that the time and effort I put into my training paid off with a bronze medal. The team silver medal was a real bonus”
