Welsh Gymnastics

Welsh Gymnastics (WG) is the national governing body for gymnastics in Wales. It has overall responsibility for the administration of all eight gymnastics disciplines in Wales – women's artistic, men's artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, general gymnastics, sports acrobatics, sports aerobics, trampolining and tumbling – through its four geographical areas (north, south, east and west), which are responsible for their own area competition and squad training sessions.^[1][2]

Welsh Gymnastics

Gymnasteg Cymru
Abbreviation	WG
Formation	1902; 123 years ago (1902)
Type	National sports governing body
Purpose	Developing gymnasts, coaches and gymnastics clubs in Wales
Headquarters	Sport Wales National Centre
Location	Cardiff, Wales
Chairman	Chris McLarnon
CEO	Victoria Ward
Head of MAG	Peter Etherington
Head of WAG	Tracey Skirton-Davies
Affiliations	British Gymnastics European Union of Gymnastics FIG, British Olympic Association
Website	Welsh Gymnastics
Formerly called	Welsh Amateur Gymnastics Association

History

Welsh Gymnastics was founded in 1902 as the Welsh Amateur Gymnastics Association (WAGA) which catered for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics.^[3]

In 1912 Welsh gymnasts William Cowhig and William Titt were part of the British team that won bronze in the team event at the 1912 Olympic Games in Sweden.^[3] They are the only Welsh gymnasts to win an Olympic medal to date.^[3]

Welsh Gymnastics first competed at the Commonwealth Games in 1978 after gymnastics was included in the Games programme.^[3] The gymnasts who were the first to represent Wales at these Commonwealth Games in Canada were: Andrew Hallam, Leigh Jones, Michael Higgins, Paul Preedy, Tina Pocock, Jacqueline Vokes, Linda Bernard and Linda Surringer.^[3]

Women’s artistic gymnast Sonia Lawrence won silver on the vault at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada to become the first gymnast to win a Commonwealth medal for Wales.^[3]

In 2004 the organisation changed to Welsh Gymnastics (WG) dropping the amateur status and becoming a company limited by guarantee.^[3]

Welsh Gymnastics relocated from their previous headquarters at Cardiff Central Youth Club to Sport Wales National Centre at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff in 2010.^[4][5]

Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff
home of Welsh Gymnastics

In 2014 Welsh gymnasts won a historic 10 medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Becoming their most successful Commonwealth Games to date.^[3] Rhythmic gymnast Frankie Jones led the way with six medals (five individual, one team).^[3]

Helen Phillips MBE stepped down as Chair in 2019 after a 18-year tenure.^[3]

Chris McLarnon becomes Chair in 2024.^[6]

Competition

Welsh Gymnastics organises the Welsh national team for international competition including the Commonwealth Games & Northern European Gymnastics Championships.

It also hosts national competitions including the Welsh Gymnastics Championships annually for elite-level artistic gymnasts which is a qualifying event for the British Gymnastics Championships which subsequently acts a selection event for the British Gymnastics national team.^[2][4]