Olympic hopeful Frankie Jones gives Sky Sports a guide to rhythmic gymnastics ahead of London 2012.
Olympic hopeful Frankie Jones gives Sky Sports a guide to rhythmic gymnastics ahead of London 2012
As London 2012 draws ever closer, rhythmic gymnast Frankie Jones is hopeful she will do enough to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games. At the official opening of the Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites hotel in Stratford, she gave Sky Sports a guide to her event as the nerves and excitement begin to build.
Passion for rhythmic gymnastics
My previous athletics gym closed for refurbishment. The only other local gym provided rhythmic gymnastics. I went along to that and did not really know what it was, because it is not really a very well-known sport. But I loved it and then quickly progressed. It is such a beautiful sport to watch. When I go to top competitions, it is amazing to watch their stunning performances.
Qualifying
For me, for the individual place, it was last year that we started the Olympic qualification process. We had to get certain scores to be able to go to the World Championships in September 2011. Three of us went to the World Championships as a team. The top competitor at that competition was then put forward as an Olympic candidate.
Training
I do six days a week of about seven hours. There is probably about four hours a day which are sport-specific. Then I also do strength and conditioning, ballet, expression - which is putting your routine to the music - and any fitness work. I always used to find ballet tough, because it is all about strength. But this year I have enjoyed it a lot more.
Key skills
Gymnasts tend to be quite flexible for rhythmic. But hard work is the main thing. You have to train at everything and so you need to be quite versatile. You have to be very dedicated.
The Olympics
It has only recently become real that I am looking towards the Olympics as the goal. I have always kept smaller goals in mind, such as the next competition. I have a competition in Romania at the weekend. But now there is more excitement around the UK about the Olympics. It is a mixture of nerves and excitement.
Main rivals
The Olympics will be dominated by Eastern Europeans. Russia and Belarus are very, very strong. The Russian, Evgenia Kanayeva, is probably at the top. I think she should win it as long as she performs well.
Frankie Jones was speaking at the official opening of the Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites hotel London - Stratford City hotel. Holiday Inn is the official hotel provider to London 2012. To book visit ichotelsgroup.com
