The gymnasts below are those given on the nominative list - while this is subject to change, it seems the most logical team and I think any changes are unlikely. This years Euros will be a team and apparatus competition - there will be no all-around, and the team choice is made according. The team will consist of 5 gymnasts with 3 gymnasts up on each apparatus.
Becky DownieBecky is my lock for the Euros team - I can't say enough how great I think she's looking this season! At the British she won beam and second all-around (despite falling on her beam dismount) and bars. Her bars and beam sets are definitely finals worthy, if not in contention for a medal if she hits. She unfortunately fell at Euros and Worlds finals last year, but this year she looks in top form and has proven her capability at both the British Champs and the last trial in Germany, where she scored 15.1 for her bar routine. She also vaults a DTY which will be very useful for the team... I really hope this is her year and she gets the international medal she's so capable of!
Rebecca TunneyAfter a slow 2013 due to injuries and a growth spurt, Rebecca came back with a bang at the British Championships last month winning all-around and bars gold. Her bars really is a stand out with lots of interesting (and risky!) skills and connections (including a Church to Bhardwaj), which can score up in the 15's if she produces the routine she showed at the British - again, a potential medal winner here! She's capable of good scores on floor and vault (she vaults a DTY) as well and will surely be a lock for Team GB.
Hannah WhelanHannah won silver on beam (with a personal best 15.05!) and bronze on floor in Liverpool last month, and scored well in Germany too (a 14.1 on beam with a large balance check, 13.5 on floor with an OOB). Her beam in particular is so stylish and unique, she performs an Onodi, aerial carthwheel to back layout and some lovely choreography - a real pleasure to watch and will put up strong scores for Team GB here. She won bronze on floor and beam at the 2012 Europeans so fingers crossed for finals and medals this year!
Ruby HarroldRuby had a bit of a rough time at the British but came back strong at the last trial in Germany, coming second in the all-around 0.1 behind Spain's Roxana Popa-Nedelcu. World and European finalist on bars in 2013, Ruby really can perform on this event and will put up another strong score for Team GB here. However, with three British girls all fantastic on bars it'll be close as to who will qualify for bars finals. She also has a nice floor routine (I love her new choreography!) which will score well on an event GB is weaker on at the moment.
Claudia FragapaneJust... wow! Claudia did fantastically at the British winning 2nd on vault, 3rd all-around and 3rd on bars but it is her floor that is really spectacular. She performs a full twisting double layout (the first Brit to compete this tumble), double layout, double arabian and double pike for a 5.9 D score... Unfortunately she has so much power she seems to go flying out of bounds after each pass, if she could control those landings she has the skills to final on this event! Oh and did I mention her choreographed ninja flip? See here at 1:07... Love it!
That concludes the team... Needless to say I am very excited about GB's potential at these upcoming championships, and with Russia and Romania looking slightly weaker than previous years it will be a much tighter team competition.
Here is who I would put up and in what order (not confirmed - just my own speculation!).
Bars - Ruby Harrold, Rebecca Downie, Rebecca Tunney
Beam - Ruby Harrold, Hannah Whelan, Rebecca Downie
Vault - Claudia Fragapane, Rebecca Downie, Rebecca Tunney
Floor - Ruby Harrold, Hannah Whelan, Claudia Fragapane
What do you think of Team GB's chances at this Euros? Is this the team you would pick?
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