Hucknall siblings to compete at world gymnastic qualifiers

DAN PURVIS is so head over heels about competing in gymnastics he’s refusing to consider a trip Down Under as his swansong in the sport.

Great Britain will send a full women’s gymnastics team to next summer’s Olympics in Rio after their exceptional display at the World Championships in Glasgow.

He is targeting a place in the Rio Olympics next year, bidding to add to the bronze he won as part of the British team at London in 2012.

“I just go on A Question of Sport and things TV-related and just try and be myself as much as I can”.

In 2003, Vijay Singh, the former Masters champion, refused to play in the same group as Annika Sorenstam, then the world’s leading female golfer, after she received an invitation fromk the sponsor’s of the Bank of America Colonial tournament in Texas. It has been hard to get into this team because everyone is so good and we have a lot of juniors coming through.

“There is maybe a squad of 15 pushing for selection now, which is great, but the worlds were a massive aim of mine, knowing they would be held in Glasgow”.

The 19-year-old from Portavogie, a student teacher at Stranmillis College, goes for glory with Team Ireland in Glasgow’s SSE Hydro Arena today. I’m really happy, mainly of course for the team but also with my own performance in my first ever world championships. “I’m going to give it my best shot”.

“The British gymnasts will get an incredible reception from the fans in the Hydro Arena and ticket sales have been really strong”.

“Three or four years later I am on the team and fighting for those medals”.

He said: “The main target is to qualify a team for Rio and we want to be in the top eight in the world at this competition”.

‘I remember how great the atmosphere was and having that home crowd behind you is definitely an advantage. The United States men’s team is comprised of: Chris Brooks of Houston/Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); Marvin Kimble of Milwaukee, Wis./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); Danell Leyva of Miami, Fla./Team Hilton (Universal Gymnastics); Alexander Naddour of Queen Creek, Ariz./Team Hilton (USA Youth Fitness Center); Paul Ruggeri of Manlius, N.Y./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); Donnell Whittenburg of Baltimore, Md./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center); and Brandon Wynn of Voorhees, N.J./Team Hilton (U.S. Olympic Training Center).

“I can’t wait to feel the lift from the crowd again”.

“Following a remarkable 2014, during which the nation was the focus of the sporting world as host of the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup, Scotland now has the capacity, capability, credibility and confidence to welcome sport’s biggest occasions”.

“It was fantastic but it was also quite intimidating on the first piece”.