Gymnastics: Downie aims to conquer the world after taking Europe by storm

Almost two months have passed since Ellie Downie hit the headlines following her remarkable European success in Romania– yet she’s only just coming down from cloud nine.

But for the Nottingham gymnast, new targets are on the horizon as she looks for a repeat of her achievements at world level.

April’s European Championships saw Downie write her name in the history books, becoming the first British gymnast to win all-around gold at a major championship.

She went on to add two silver and one bronze medal to her haul in Cluj-Napoca, having qualified for all five individual finals.

It’s a feat the 17-year-old would love to replicate at this year’s World Championships, taking place in Montreal in October, but she’s determined not to get too carried away.

“It was an absolutely crazy week with one thing happening after another,” said Downie.

“The all-around was definitely really unexpected for me, and then to go on to medal at four out of five finals was just insane.

“I always knew I was good, but knowing that I am the all-around champion of Europe is mad, and even when I come into training now, I just think ‘did I even do that?’

“I feel that when you achieve success, there are more eyes on you at the next competition. But I think I will just take it in my stride and not let it get to me – I’ll just compete like I normally do.

“The Worlds are coming round very quick. I’ve had some time off after the Euros so I’m just getting back into a routine now.

“If I was to medal at the Worlds, it would be absolutely unreal. I go into every competition just aiming to do my best, and then wherever I end up, I end up.”

Once the Worlds are done and dusted though, Downie’s focus will quickly turn to defending her all-around title at next year’s European Championships, this time taking place on British soil.

For the first time ever, a new multi-sport event will combine the existing European Championships for aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and triathlon, along with a new golf team championships, between August 2-12 in Glasgow. The 2018 European Athletics Championships meanwhile will be held in Berlin from August 7-12.
More than 3,000 of the continent’s finest athletes will descend on the Scottish city over 11 days of action for the biggest sporting event in the country since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games– and Downie can’t wait for the action to unfold.

“It’s going to be amazing to perform on home soil,” she said. “The Hydro Arena is a very memorable arena for me, it’s where we won our first team medal, so it will be nice to be back there.

“I think the atmosphere is going to be incredible with the home crowd, and there’s going to be a lot of hype around it.

“It is a multi-sport event, instead of just being gymnastics, so we will be able to interact with all the other athletes and that will create even more of a buzz.

“It’s going to be unreal going in as reigning all-around champion. I’ve never been in that position before at a European Championships so it will be different in that respect, but it will still be really exciting.”

Tickets for the Glasgow 2018 European Championships – an exciting new multi-sport event bringing together some of the continent’s leading sports – are now on sale at www.glasgow2018.com/tickets starting at £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s and over-60s.