Friday 07 August 2015
At the official 2015 World Championships draw in Glasgow yesterday, Great Britain’s men’s and women’s teams both ended up in their respective Subdivisions with 2016 Olympic hosts Brazil.
The draw is an important milestone and determines which teams will compete when during qualifying sessions, which can play an important role in strategy and preparation. Furthermore the Qualification rounds for both men and women take on further significance this year, as the top eight teams who qualify for the Final will also secure their place for the team competition at the 2016 Olympic Games.
The British women will compete in Subdivision 4 on day 1 of the Championships (Friday 23 October) in the afternoon/evening session along with Brazil and a two mixed country groups. Italy, Russia, Poland and Germany will also be in action later in that session.
Drawn in the least preferred Subdivision 1, Britain’s men will be looking to the home crowd for maximum support when they also pair up with Brazil, Peurto Rico and three mixed country groups in the morning session of day 3 (Sunday 25 October).
Reacting to the news from the draw, GB team hopeful and Scottish 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Daniel Purvis said: “The British men’s squad are out in Portugal training hard with Glasgow the big target for all of us. The Commonwealth Games last year was an incredible experience and the crowd can once again make the difference for us at the World Championships as we aim to make everyone proud and get Team GB to Rio. The men’s squad is full of world class gymnasts and we all want to be there at the Hydro on 25 October competing for our place at the Olympic Games.”
Becky Downie, 2014 European Bars champion added: “The excitement is definitely building within the GB squad. We are all training hard with Glasgow on our minds. Today’s draw is another big moment and now we have the key date in our minds - Friday 23rd October - when we will be aiming to qualify for the next Olympic Games in Rio. Its’ great that’s we’re drawn alongside Brazil - hopefully the some of the spirit of Rio will be on display!”
They World Gymnastics Championships forms part of UK Sport’s National Lottery funded #EveryRoadtoRio campaign to support athletes with their preparation and qualification for Rio 2016.
Esther Britten, Head of Major Events at UK Sport explains, “#EveryRoadtoRio is all about bringing world class sport to the UK to help our inspirational athletes prepare and qualify for Rio 2016 with the support of a passionate home crowd.
“That is why UK Sport has invested in bringing the World Gymnastics Championships to Glasgow to help give our talented gymnasts the best possible opportunity in Rio and give fans the chance to see the stars compete.
“Thanks to UK Sport’s National Lottery and Exchequer investment British Gymnastics has an impressive array of world class talent and I would urge the public to go along and help roar them to Rio!”
Still time to get your tickets to the 2015 World Gymnastic Championships from here.