Harriet Gadd aged 10 from West Wickham, won a British Silver Medal at the National Tumbling Finals in Telford this weekend.

Harriet who trains at Nitro Gymnastics along with fellow gymnast Layla Berrada aged 18, both qualified to represent London in the National Semi-Finals by winning the London Regional Tumbling Championships in April. The National Semi-Finals were held in Birmingham and hotly contested by girls from all over Great Britain. Both Harriet and Layla finished top 8 to qualify and progress to the National finals in Telford.

In the finals Harriet and Layla had to perform 3 tumbles combining multiples flips, somersaults and twists, linking them together at speed. The standard of gymnasts is extremely high and in tumbling there is no room for error, 1 foot out of place can be the difference between 1st and 8th position! Harriet said “It was really nerve wracking as it is my first ever National Competition and I was first up to compete on the day. But its my favourite discipline and I knew if I could get up enough speed and stay really tight during my tumbles I could get a medal.”

Harriet went on to perform 3 outstanding tumbles scoring a total of 81.5 out of a possible 90 putting her in silver position. Layla Berrada performed really well and went on to finish in 5th position.

Helen Korro, Head Coach at Nitro Gymnastics, said “I am immensely proud of both gymnasts, it is an amazing achievement. They are the first gymnasts to represent Nitro in a National Competition and they are an inspiration to our other club members”

Submitted by Amanda Gadd