Rhythmic gymnastics: Francesca has Japan chance
2:02pm Thursday 3rd September 2009 in Sport By Iain Liddle
Francesca Fox
FROME gymnastics starlet Francesca Fox has been chosen to represent Great Britain at Senior level at the World Championships in Mie, Japan, in September.
The 17-year-old has been in the form of her life in recent months and this continued at the UK trials to determine the team who would travel to Asia.
Fox competed in three different trials over the course of successive weekends and performed consistently in all of them to achieve the required pass mark of 21 on at least 2 pieces of equipment in every trial.
The Matravers School pupil, who is trained by Sarah Binding at the City of Bath Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, flies out to Japan on September 2 and will spend ten days competing.
This will include competing in one piece of equipment for four days which is unusual something Fox has never done before as the normal format is either four pieces on one day or two over two days.
“It’s going to be a new experience,” said proud mum Ann.
“You will have too maintain focus over an extended period.
“Francesca is really excited about the challenge ahead as this is the biggest achievement in her life and the only competition bigger is the Olympics.
“Francesca is determined along with her team mates Francesca Jones and Jade Faulkner to help Great Britain move up the rankings.
“This is a fantastic honour and she is thrilled to bits.”
City of Bath coach Binding will accompanying Fox as part of the Great Britain coaching squad.
The star gymnast also caught the eye in July at the GB Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion-ships in Stoke-on-Trent.
