Beth Tweddle

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Beth Tweddle

Beth Tweddle during her win in the floor final of the 2009 World Championships
Personal information
Full name Elizabeth Kimberly Tweddle
Country represented  United Kingdom
 England
Born 1 April 1985 (1985-04-01) (age 26)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Hometown Bunbury, Cheshire
Height 161 centimetres (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight 53 kilograms (120 lb)[1]
Discipline Women's artistic gymnastics
Level International
Club City of Liverpool (first club- Hartford School Of Gymnastics)
Gym City of Liverpool Gymnastics
Head coach(es) Amanda Reddin
Assistant coach(es) Zoltan Jordanov
Choreographer Corina Morosan
Medal record
World Championships
Gold 2006 Aarhus Uneven Bars
Gold 2009 London Floor
Gold 2010 Rotterdam Uneven Bars
Bronze 2003 Anaheim Uneven Bars
Bronze 2005 Melbourne Uneven Bars
World Cup Final
Gold 2006 Sao Paolo Uneven Bars
Silver 2004 Birmingham Uneven Bars
Silver 2006 Sao Paolo Floor
European Championships
Gold 2006 Volos Uneven Bars
Gold 2009 Milan Uneven Bars
Gold 2009 Milan Floor
Gold 2010 Birmingham Uneven Bars
Gold 2010 Birmingham Floor
Gold 2011 Berlin Uneven Bars
Silver 2004 Amsterdam Uneven Bars
Silver 2007 Amsterdam Floor
Silver 2008 Clermont-Ferrand Floor
Silver 2010 Birmingham Team
Bronze 2002 Patras Uneven Bars
Commonwealth Games
Gold 2002 Manchester Uneven Bars
Silver 2002 Manchester Team
Silver 2002 Manchester All-Around

Elizabeth "Beth" Kimberly Tweddle MBE (born 1 April 1985) is an English gymnast. Tweddle is a three time world champion having won the 2010 World Championships and 2006 World Championshipson the uneven bars and the 2009 World Championships on the floor. Tweddle was the first gymnast from Britain ever to win a medal at the World and European Championships, and is considered to be the most successful British gymnast of all time.[2][3][4][5][6] She is also a seven-time British National Champion, having won the title every year between 2001 and 2007.[7]

Contents

[edit] Background

Tweddle was born in Johannesburg, South Africa where her father was temporarily employed, and moved to England with her family when she was 18 months old.[8] She was raised in Bunbury, Cheshire, England. Tweddle began competing in gymnastics at the age of seven[4] at a local club (Hartford School of Gymnastics), and was named to the British junior national team in 1994. In 1997, she moved to the City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club. Tweddle trains alongside other British gymnasts, such as Hannah Whelan.[9] Tweddle won the British senior National Championships for the first time in 2001.[6] Tweddle was a member of the City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club team, which has won the British Team Championships five times.[10] Tweddle attended the Queens School in Chester.

[edit] Gymnastics career

Tweddle's first major senior international competition was the 2001 World Championships, placing 24th in the all-around and ninth in the team event.[11]

In 2002 Tweddle won a bronze medal on the uneven bars at the 2002 European Artistic Gymnastic Championships (European Championships) in Patras, Greece, the first medal won by a British gymnast at a European Championship.[3][12] At the 2002 World Championships, Tweddle finished fourth on the uneven bars whilst at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, she won the all-around event and the uneven bars and finished second in the team event.[13]

In 2003 Tweddle won a bronze on the uneven bars at the World Championships, becoming the first British gymnast ever to medal at a World Championships.[3][14]

In 2004, Tweddle won a silver medal on the uneven bars and placing fifth with the British team at the European Championships. At the Athens Olympics,[11][15] Tweddle finished eleventh in the team competition and nineteenth in the all-around.[11] At the 2004 World Cup finals in Birmingham, Tweddle won a silver medal on the uneven bars and placed fifth on floor.[11]

During the 2005 season, Tweddle withdrew from the European Championships through injury, after qualifying in the top eight for all events.[citation needed] At the 2005 World Championships, Tweddle finished fourth in the floor and third in uneven bars.[16] Due to injury sustained during the uneven bars, Tweddle withdrew from floor competition[citation needed].

Tweddle missed the 2006 Commonwealth Games due to injury[16], but later in the year won the gold medal on the uneven bars at the European Championships. Her victory was the first at a European Championships for a British gymnast.[3]

In October 2006, Tweddle became Britain's first ever gymnastics World Champion by winning the uneven bars event with a score of 16.200 in the 2006 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark,[17] ahead of 2005 World Champion Nastia Liukin despite having only qualified in fifth place and having fallen from the bars in the all-around. Tweddle also finished fifth in the floor finals. At the final major competition of 2006, the World Cup final, Tweddle won the uneven bars.[11]

Tweddle won her seventh consecutive British National Championship title in July 2007.[7] Later in the year, she competed with the British team at the 2007 World Championships, helping them to qualify a full team to the 2008 Olympics, but placed out of the medals in all events.[11][18]

At the 2008 European Championships in April, Tweddle won a silver medal on the floor and placed fourth on the uneven bars.[19]

At the 2008 Olympics [15][20] Tweddle finished 4th on the uneven bars with a score of 16.625.[21]

At the 2009 European Championships, Tweddle won gold medals on both floor exercise and bars.[22] Tweddle also won both events at the Glasgow Grand Prix.[23]

At the 2009 World Championships held in London Tweddle failed to qualify to the uneven Bars final, but won the Floor competition.[24]

Tweddle again took two gold medals at the 2010 European Championship in Birmingham, retaining both floor and bars titles. The British team, of which she was part, also won silver in the team competition.

At the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, in a reverse of her performance at the World Championships in 2009, Tweddle failed to qualify for the floor final, but won the gold medal in the uneven Bars final. Tweddle was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.[25]

[edit] Other activities

Tweddle graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a degree in Sports Science in 2007.[6] After retiring, she plans to become a physiotherapist.[2] During her time at Liverpool John Moores University, Tweddle ran an unsuccessful campaign to become Students' Union president.

As a result of her success in international gymnastics, Tweddle was nominated for, and finished in third place, for the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, the only British gymnast ever to make the short list for the award.[26]

[edit] Competitive history

Results as per Tweddle's official competition record at the International Gymnastics Federation athlete profile page.[11]

[edit] 2001

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2001 World Championships Ghent All Around 24 34.892 23 35.061
Team 9 138.671

[edit] 2002

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2002 World Championships Debrecen Uneven Bar 4 9.312 5 9.387
Continental Chships/Games Patras All Around 14 34.242 7 35.686
Balance Beam 7 8.550
Team 6 102.772
Uneven Bar 3 9.287

[edit] 2003

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2003 World Championships Anaheim Team 9 143.046
Uneven Bar 3 9.512
World Cup/Series Stuttgart Uneven Bar 2 9.475
World Cup/Series Paris Balance Beam 15 8.250
Uneven Bar 2 9.450 2 9.400
World Cup/Series Cottbus Uneven Bar 1 9.400 1 9.375
World Cup/Series Glasgow Balance Beam 3 8.800
Uneven Bar 1 9.450

[edit] 2004

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2004 Olympic Games Athens All Around 19 35.761 19 36.912
Team 11 145.797
Continental Chships/Games Amsterdam All Around 11 35.124
Team 5 107.009
Uneven Bar 2 9.587
World Cup/Series Cottbus Balance Beam 10 8.600
Uneven Bar 1 9.587 2 9.550
World Cup/Series Lyon Uneven Bar 1 9.500 2 9.400
World Cup/Series Final Birmingham Floor Exercise 5 9.550
Uneven Bar 2 9.612
World Cup/Series Glasgow Floor Exercise 3 9.475
Uneven Bar 2 9.450
Vault 4 8.912

[edit] 2005

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2005 World Championships Melbourne All Around 4 36.936 4 36.937
Balance Beam 18 8.800
Floor Exercise 5 9.425
Uneven Bar 3 9.575 3 9.537
World Cup/Series Paris Floor Exercise 7 8.225
Uneven Bar 2 9.450
Continental Chships/Games Debrecen All Around 24 9.175 2 36.725
World Cup/Series Ghent Floor Exercise 4 9.100
Uneven Bar 1 9.600
World Cup/Series New York Floor Exercise 3 9.412
Uneven Bar 4 9.487
World Cup/Series Glasgow Balance Beam 3 9.012
Floor Exercise 1 9.475
Uneven Bar 1 9.687

[edit] 2006

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2006 World Championships Aarhus Uneven Bars 1

All Around

 8 59.450 4 59.975
Balance Beam 29 14.800
Floor Exercise 4 15.425 6 15.100
Team 11 226.575
Uneven Bar 1 16.200 5 15.675
World Cup/Series Glasgow Floor Exercise 7 14.550
Uneven Bar 1 16.025
Continental Chships/Games Volos All Around 98 15.850
Team 7 162.725 7 167.225
Uneven Bar 1 16.050 1 15.850
World Cup/Series Final São Paulo Floor Exercise 2 15.200
Uneven Bar 1 16.300

[edit] 2007

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2007 World Championships Stuttgart All Around 11 58.725 4 60.775
Balance Beam 25 14.925
Floor Exercise 7 14.900 3 15.250
Team 7 169.175 6 233.025
Uneven Bar 4 16.125 3 16.075
World Cup/Series Glasgow Floor Exercise 1 14.550
Uneven Bar 7 14.025
Continental Chships/Games Amsterdam All Around 82 14.725
Floor Exercise 2 15.250 5 14.725

[edit] 2008

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2008 Olympic Games Beijing Team 9 232.425
All Around 80 30.700
Uneven Bars 4 16.625 8 15.650
Continental Chships/Games Clermont-Ferrand All Around 77 31.400
Floor Exercise 2 15.525 2 15.475
Team 6 174.050 5 174.050
Uneven Bar 4 15.475 1 15.925

[edit] 2009

Year Competition description Location Apparatus Rank-final Score-final Rank-qualifying Score-qualifying
2009 Continental Chships/Games Milan
Uneven Bars 1 15.575 1 15.275
Floor Exercise 1 15.150 1 14.975
World Cup/Series Glasgow
Uneven Bars 1 15.275 1 14.850
Floor Exercise 1 14.900 1 15.025
World Championships London
Uneven Bars 16 13.850
Floor Exercise 1 14.650 4 14.075

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "BOA > Athletes > Beth Tweddle". British Olympic Authority. http://www.olympics.org.uk/athleterecord.aspx?at=5677. Retrieved 23 October 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Phil Harlow (12 June 2007). "Tweddle plans retirement route.". BBC Sport Olympics. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/gymnastics/6740769.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  3. ^ a b c d Historical timeline of gymnastics successes BAGA (British Amateur Gymnastics Association)
  4. ^ a b "Gymnastics: Beth Tweddle hoping 2008 can be her best year yet" Alex Bell, Liverpool Daily Post, 7 December 2007
  5. ^ "Tweddle Treats Dutch with Holiday Display" Amanda Turner, International Gymnast, 23 December 2006
  6. ^ a b c "Olympic Countdown: Beth Tweddle" Eurosport, 21 March 2008
  7. ^ a b "Tweddle Takes Lucky Number Seven" Amanda Turner, International Gymnast, 8 July 2007
  8. ^ "Biography". Beth Tweddle. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20081201125346/http://www.bethtweddle.com/personal.htm. Retrieved 10 January 2012. 
  9. ^ "Making History: Beth Tweddle" Inside Gymnastics, 4 November 2007
  10. ^ "Gymnastics: City provides a show of strength" James Pearce, Liverpool Echo, 18 June 2008
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Tweddle's official results record at the International Gymnastics Federation
  12. ^ "Tweddle makes history at European champs" Rob Burgess, UK Sport, 22 April 2002
  13. ^ "Medal Treble for Tweddle" Jason Hughes, PA International, 2002
  14. ^ "Inside Lines: Beth Tweddle" Alan Hubbard, The Independent, 31 August 2003
  15. ^ a b "Tweddle and Downie lead GB team". BBC Sport Olympics. 29 June 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/gymnastics/7480366.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  16. ^ a b Sarah Holt (15 March 2006). "Injury forces Tweddle to pull out". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/4805840.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  17. ^ "Super Tweddle wins landmark gold". BBC Sport. 20 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/gymnastics/6071832.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  18. ^ "Tweddle slumps to fourth on bars". BBC Sport. 8 September 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/gymnastics/6980850.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  19. ^ "Four Nations Golden as Europeans Conclude" Amanda Turner, International Gymnast, 6 April 2008
  20. ^ "Tweddle to miss GB Championships". BBC Sport Olympics. 24 June 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/gymnastics/7471364.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 
  21. ^ "China win as Tweddle misses out". BBC Sport. 18 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/gymnastics/7568051.stm. Retrieved 18 August 2008. 
  22. ^ "GB Gymnasts Claim Five Medals at European Champs"
  23. ^ http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2009/gbr/ggp2009wag.html
  24. ^ "Tweddle claims superb World gold". BBC News. 18 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/gymnastics/8313297.stm. Retrieved 26 April 2010. 
  25. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 59282. p. 23. 31 December 2009.
  26. ^ "Sports Personality contenders". BBC Sport. 4 December 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/6196898.stm. Retrieved 1 January 2010. 

[edit] External links

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1 Women competed on Parallel Bars, not Uneven Bars, at the 1938 World Championships
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