Willow’s Olympic dream boosted by new grant

South Devon gymnast starlet Willow-Mae Calland somersaulted for joy after receiving a helping hand in her quest for Olympic stardom.

The Rotary Club of Tormohun (Torquay) and president elect Gary Phare have presented their annual Sports Award to Torquay schoolgirl Willow-Mae.

President Elect Garry Phare introduced Willow-Mae, who 'charmed the room', with a brief outline of her achievements to date.

Ten-year-old Willow-Mae, who is a member of the South Devon School of Gymnastics and attends Our Lady of the Angels Primary School, has seen 22 hours a week of training, dedication and determination pay off with a whole string of remarkable achievements in the past couple of years.

Willow has won several county and national titles, as well as representing both Devon and the South West. Because of her outstanding performances at both regional and national level, she has recently travelled to Lilleshall – Gymnastics National Centre of Excellence – to take part in a Great Britain Reward Day where she was coached by the National Coaches and trained with the top gymnasts from across the entire country.

She continues to impress across the Gymnastics circuit and has a very important few months ahead of her. Looking forward to 2024, she will be aiming to pass her final grade Compulsory 2 in May and again qualify for National Finals (these grades are a part of the Elite British Gymnastics Pathway into the GB squads).

If she passes, at the age of 10, she will be one of the youngest gymnasts to have passed this level and it will stand her in good stead for selection into the Great Britain Aspire Squad. She will also look to complete her Voluntary Levels at the end of the Year and gain qualification into the British Championships in March 2025.

It is all part of Willow-Mae's dream to aim for the Elite Pathway to the Great Britain Team and, hopefully, the Olympic Team for participation in the 2032 Olympics in Australia. 

And all from somebody described as a 'delightful 10-year-old-girl clearly going places'.