Abi Martin is a Torbay Olympian

Gymnast Abi Martin will be representing Torbay at the Paris Olympics after being selected in the Team GB squad.

It is the realisation of a dream that started as a six year-old and Abi, who is currently undertaking her GCSE’s at Paignton Academy, will be flying the flag for Torbay and the South Devon School of Gymnastics.

The news she had made the Olympic team comes hot on the heels from helping Great Britain win silver in the European Championships in Italy.

Mum Ellie said: “From the age of six, Abi told us she would compete in the Olympics. We’ve never discouraged her but also been realists and told her that it would take immense hard work to reach her dream.

“Deep down, you don’t expect it to happen, so it is absolutely mental she has achieved something so special.

“We’ve known she was in the squad for three weeks from a pre-arranged Teams call. They scheduled Abi’s early because it was her last day of school before breaking up for the GCSE exams.

“It was such a crazy and surreal experience for us as a family. She obviously went to the European Championships and there was a lot of speculation she would also make the Olympic squad but you still never believe it’s going to happen.

“I’ll be travelling to Paris with my older daughter and what an experience for all of us.”

As well as the personal achievement for Abi and her family, Olympic recognition is also an incredible moment for the South Devon School of Gymnastics, who will be celebrating hard and preparing the bunting for Paris.

General manager Nikki Tucker explained the full implications of Abi’s success in terms of the pride and inspiration that will be passed on to all the other gymnasts at their club, and other clubs in the Bay.

It is already a golden moment in the history of Torbay sport, with Abi taking her place in a Team GB squad that also includes six-time Olympic medallist Max Whitlock.  

“It’s amazing, an achievement that you can’t really put into words for Abi, her coach Rachel and the club as a whole,” said Nikki. “The next generation of gymnasts coming through can see what can be achieved through hard work and desire.

“The family has known for a little while before it became public knowledge, so they’ve had a bit of time to get used to it. Abi had a GCSE exam on Friday morning, immediately after travelling back from Lilleshall, but I think the news took a while to sink in for everybody.

“We have already worked out the schedule of events for the Olympics, although, unfortunately, the qualification stage for the finals is early on a Sunday morning, which doesn’t scream out party but we’ll still have a great time.”

“We are all extremely proud,” added coach Rachel Wignall. “Abi started with the club from the age of six, so ten years with us, and I’ve been her coach since she was seven.

“She started in our recreational classes, then development classes before moving up to the full squad. Even in those early days, we knew Abi had a special talent. She wasn’t always the best gymnast when she was younger but there was definitely something special.

“As well as her obvious physical attributes, it is the mental determination that makes Abi stand out. Ever since she was very little, she always had big goals and if someone told her she couldn’t do something, she wanted to prove them wrong. She is a very determined young lady.

“From a wider club perspective and for gymnastics in our region, I don’t think gymnasts in the past ever thought it was genuinely possible to represent Great Britain, the Olympics weren’t even talked about as a possibility.

“Abi has demonstrated that, if you’re prepared to work hard at something, you can achieve your goal, no matter where in the country you live. It is great for our kids to know that anything is possible.”

And finally from Abi herself, who told Team GB: “It feels great to be selected for such a big competition, especially being only 16, so I’m just going to make the most of the experience.

“This is my first year as a senior gymnast, so it feels amazing to be headed to Paris as it’s the first time I’m eligible to go to compete at an Olympic Games, so to have made the team is a big achievement.”