In just a couple of weeks’ time they will be flying to Rio de Janeiro in search of gold medal success at the 2016 Summer Olympics – but for now the Team GB gymnastics team has enjoyed a much deserved farewell dinner at a Shropshire hotel.
The team, which has been training at Lilleshall National Sports Centre – the home of British Gymnastics – for the past few weeks took a rare night off on Friday (July 15) to enjoy a specially prepared dinner and presentation at the Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel and Spa.
Hotel manager Jennifer Sibbald-Wall said: “It was an absolute honour to host this very special dinner for the Team GB gymnastic team and we hope they all had a wonderful evening.
“They certainly all looked to be very relaxed and having a good time.
“The run up to the games is obviously a critical time in terms of training and nutrition for the gymnasts so our chef prepared a special menu for them based on a nutritional plan provided by the team coach.
“It was very well received and we were over the moon to be able to pass on our personal good luck wishes to the team ahead of Rio.”
More than 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees will compete at the Olympic Games in Rio, from 5 to 21 August.
Team GB has qualified to compete in the men’s and women’s artistic and trampoline events with the full team line-up was announced on July 12 at Lilleshall.
The men’s artistic gymnastics team will be Louis Smith MBE, Max Whitlock, Nile Wilson, Brinn Bevan and Kristian Thomas, the women’s artistic gymnastics team will be Becky Downie, Ellie Downie, Claudia Fragapane, Ruby Harrold and Amy Tinkler, and the trampoline gymnasts will be Kat Driscoll, Bryony Page and Nathan Bailey.
Photographer : Nick Archer
