British Worlds Team Rotterdam 2010 announced ...

Tweddle, Smith (GBR)

The British Gymnastics Federation announced it's men's and women's team for the 42nd WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS of ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS, which will held from 16 - 24 October in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Heading the Teams will be World Floor Champion and European Floor and Uneven Bars Champion Beth Tweddle.
Alongside Beijing Olympic Pommel Horse Bronze medallist and European Pommel Silver medallist Louis Smith.

British Gymnastics Olympic Performance Director Tim Jones: “We have two significant events coming up with the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, and are delighted to be in a such a positive position whereby Britain will have very strong Teams in Rotterdam, whilst the Home Nations have also been in a position to pick high-quality Teams for the Commonwealth Games. This is a clear reflection of the strength in depth of the Men’s and Women’s programmes British Gymnastics have in place. The results in Rotterdam are very important in the lead up to London 2012 and the remainder of the Olympic qualification process.”

Daniel Purvis, floor bronze in Birmingham

The Men’s Team are made up of the majority of the 2010 European Team Silver medal winning gymnasts, and are blessed with a depth of talent including European Floor Bronze medallist Daniel Purvis and Kristian Thomas, who placed 6th at the 2009 World Championships.
They are joined by Theo Seager, Sam Hunter and Ruslan Pantelymonov.
British Gymnastics Men’s Technical Director, Eddie Van Hoof: “The Men’s programme is very excited about the prospect of sending two full Teams to both the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

The progress made by the British Men in the last 2 years has been excellent and has contributed to the strength in depth evident in both teams. The expectations are high for the British Team at the World Championships and the Home Nation gymnasts competing at the Commonwealth Games.”

* British Men’s Artistic Selection:
Sam Hunter, Ruslan Panteleymonov, Dan Purvis, Theo Seager, Louis Smith, Kristian Thomas.

The British Men have been drawn in Subdivision 3 (out of 10) and will compete together with Canada, Ireland, Greece, Qatar and Mixed Group 1.

Becky Downie, British all-around champion

* Women:
Following their 2010 European Championship Team Silver, the Women’s Team includes British Champion Hannah Whelan and Becky Downie who finished a British record 12th place All-around in Beijing.
Joining these established Senior performers are Danusia Francis, Jennifer Pinches and Nicole Hibbert.
British Gymnastics Women's Technical Director, Adrian Stan: “We are fortunate to have great strength in depth, and backed up by a good medical service and programme, the gymnasts are in very good physical shape and we look forward to positive results in Rotterdam. The World Championships and Commonwealth Games being so close has created a strategic situation and we are confident that the Teams selected for both events will be capable of good results.”

* British Women’s Artistic Selection:
Beth Tweddle, Rebecca Downie, Danusia Francis, Nicole Hibbert, Jennifer Pinches, Hannah Whelan

According to the Drawing of Lots held on Saturday, 24 July, the British Women’s Team will enter Competition 1 as part of Subdivision 6 (out of 12), along with the teams of Russia, France and Sweden.
* SOURCE: British Gymnastics

* INFORMATION:
The 2010 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will be held at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from Saturday, 16th October to Sunday, 24th October.
The Championships mark the first key step on the journey to the London 2010 Olympic Games.
Only the top 24 Men’s and 24 Women’s teams in Rotterdam will proceed further to the second round of the Olympic Qualifications, in Tokyo (JPN) at the 2011 World Championships.
With 73 National Federations, 53 Men’s and 44 Women’s Teams, this first leg of the 2012 Olympic Qualifications has set an attendance record. The Championships include Team, All-around and Individual Apparatus Finals.