Our School motto “Non Palma Sine Pulvere” – meaning no rewards without hard work – is personified in Francesca (aged 13, the smallest in the picture) and her two partners who have won bronze in the Acrobatic European Age Group Championships in Israel.
It is a brilliant achievement because they were competing against 30 other teams from across Europe. You can seen them perform their balance routine on our Facebook page.
Francesca and her partners Amy (aged 15) and Olivia (aged 17) have been training together for just over two years at Tigers Gymnastics club in Tonbridge.
Their training routine is usually three hours a day for five days a week, but ahead of major championships such as this it can increase to 18-20 hours a week.
They performed two routines: a dynamic which showcases throwing and catching moves, and a balance which features all three gymnasts held in balance/counterbalance moves.
Combined scores from these routines qualified them for third place going into the final – where the scores are reset to zero.
The other finalists delivered some superb routines – not least from eventual winners Portugal and silver medallists Russian Federation – before their turn, so the pressure was on.
Francesca and her trio performed a great combined routine and were absolutely ecstatic to secure the bronze medal.
They are now back to full training in the hope of being selected to compete again for GB at the Acrobatic World Age Group Championships in Switzerland in 2020.
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