British Team Preview, Women's European Championships

"It can't get much better than this" was a sentiment echoed throughout the Schleyer Halle, as the British team royally turned all predictions and hopes on their heads by finishing in seventh place at the 2007 World Championship Team Finals in Stuttgart, Germany. A surprise? Perhaps to some, but with Great Britain playing host to the 2009 Worlds and the 2012 Olympic Games, the time to make an impact was here and now! At what was a pivotal crossroads, team leader Beth Tweddle was joined by a sparking array of talent, who effortlessly took British expectations and catapulted them to a new level. The talk now being, what could happen next?

Tweddle at the 2007 Europeans

With attention fixating on 2008, the next chapter of this story will unfold at the upcoming European Championships in Clermont-Ferrand, France, where Tweddle will be joined by Becky Downie, Laura Jones, Marissa King and Hannah Clowes. Much speculation surrounded Tweddle's involvement; having sat out the recent competitive duel competitions against the Czech Republic and France, hardworking Beth was currently reworking her bars exercise to include the Ono turn competed prior to 2005 and the "Tweddle" (A Tkatchev with late half twist) with a focus undoubtedly on Beijing, the eventual inclusion of Tweddle on bars and floor is a huge and timely boost for the British camp.

If Beth represents the accomplished chief of the British team, Becky Downie is a commander in waiting. The 16-year-old Nottingham gymnast has come through successful foot surgery in the winter to reassert her stance as one of Britain's brightest all-around prospects. Coached by Claire Starkey, Downie is now fully fit to compete floor (full-twisting double, triple twist, 1½ through to double twist, 2½ to close) and given Tweddle's two-event status in France, the 2007 Junior British champion has ample opportunity to step up and grasp the limelight.

Gymnastics must reign in the air up in Nottingham as Downie is joined by teammate Laura Jones. Jones, born June 12, 1992, was the alternate at last year's World Championships, but has made impressive strides forward since then. Renowned as a beam maestro (front somersault-half, beautiful triple twist dismount), Jones has reworked her start values to catapult to the forefront of the British scene, her expressive work now elusively combined with a good level of difficulty. One to watch, Jones is poised to play an elusive role in this, her first major senior team competition. British expectations likely hinge on how she handles the pressure!

Marissa King and Hannah Clowes make up the reminder of the team. King, who has progressed rapidly over the last two years, continues to excel on vault (first place at the recent Great Britain vs. France) while Clowes has increased her A scores to add further depth to the British cause. All in all as the team marches south toward France, the outlook has never looked so positive, the prospects strong as the clear message sealed and delivered is "Watch out! The British Team sure can get better than this!"