Sunday Spotlight: Rebecca Tunney (GBR)

This Sunday Spotlight features British gymnast Rebecca Tunney, who was the youngest member of Great Britain's 2012 Olympic Team. Born in '96 she was just 15 when she competed in London and finished a very respectable 13th place in the all-around final. She trains at Liverpool Gymnastics and is coached by Claire Duffy (who also coached Beth Tweddle, Hannah Whelan and Jennifer Pinches).

Rebecca Tunney, now 16 years old trains at Liverpool Gymnastics (photo credit: Guardian UK)

Her gymnastics has improved rapidly over the past year. At the start of 2012 she competed in the American Cup where she had significant problems on beam. However, the youngster learned from her mistakes and came back to win the British Championships. Later in the year, she produced solid beam routines in front of a home crowd and enormous pressure at the Olympic Games. Her coach Claire Duffy is happy with how Rebecca has handled the pressure of an Olympic Games.

 "She takes everything in her stride. She's used to big occasions and she will treat it as just another competition. She knows that she has to be ready to deliver the routine to the best of her ability" (from the Observer, UK).

Tunney on floor exercise during the Qualifications round at the 2012 Olympic Games (photp credit www.zimbio.com)

Rebecca has beautiful lines and executes her routines very cleanly. She is probably most well known for her bar routine where she has excellent rhythm and a variety of different skills. Her floor routine is also a delight to watch, she has such style for a gymnast so young. The tumbling is not bad either! Beth Tweddle has much praise for this young gymnast. 

“Rebecca is a great gymnast, so mature and grounded considering she’s not 16 yet and she’s got a great future.” (LiverpoolEcho, UK)

Tunney's routine from the London Test Event where she qualified to the bars final

Rebecca's floor routine from the 2012 British Championships where she won the all-around competition

Rebecca describes the Olympic Games as a 'surreal experience' but she is very proud of her achievements. On the sacrifices she has made to get to London, she says 

"It's been worth it. This is the best experience of my life. Not many people can say they've been to an Olympics at the age of 15 so it is an achievement"

She is absolutely correct! What an amazing achievement for Rebecca, I am sure that her coach and family are incredibly proud of what she has accomplished at her young age!

Tunney plans to shoot for Rio in 2016, although she is well aware that things do not always go to plan.

"To be honest with you, it depends on how fit I am, how many injuries I have had. See how that goes," she said. "I would like to think that I will stay on. But you never know what will happen in the future." (Guardian, UK)

Rebecca, we hope to see you continue in the sport. British gymnastics is undergoing an exciting period, with the success of Beth Tweddle and the Men's team (took home bronze in the team final, their first team medal at the Olympic Games). British gymnastics needs young talents like Tunney to continue the legacy!

Double pike dismount from Tunney in the all-around final at the Olympic Games (Photo credit: Guardian)

British Gymnastics advert for Tunney

Article by Imogen Browne (@ImogenMireille)