Gymnast Ellie Downie wins first ever GB all-round medal
Last Updated: 17/04/15 6:42pm
Teenage gymnast Ellie Downie has made history by winning Great Britain's first ever women's major championships all-round medal after clinching bronze at the European Championships in Montpellier.
The 15-year-old from Nottingham navigated the four apparatus to attain a score of 56.623 and the bronze medal, with Switzerland's Giulia Steingruber and Maria Kharenkova of Russia taking gold and silver respectively.
Downie first displayed her skill on the bar, dismounting in style for 14.233 points before scoring another 13.89 on the beam.
After tumbling powerfully on the floor to score 13.666 she produced a double-twisting 'Yurchenko' on the vault that earned her 14.833 more points and the bronze medal.
Downie said: "It's ridiculous! I can't believe what's just happened. Coming in to the championships I was maybe hoping for top 10 as it's my first senior event and to win a medal is incredible.
"I've never felt so nervous going to vault - the final piece - even though it's my strongest apparatus. I knew I was right up there in with a chance of a medal so to then land that safely was a huge relief, I just burst into tears."
Downie’s fellow Briton Claudia Fragapane placed sixth in the final and said: "I'm really happy with the final placing.
"Having fallen on bars in qualification I adjusted that routine and was really happy to go through clean, on beam I had a problem but floor and vault I could really express myself.
"I'm so happy for Ellie, she is a great friend and she was amazing today."
