A WARRINGTON gymnastics club are currently representing Great Britain on the world stage as they form part of the largest ever team to perform at the biggest celebration of the sport on the planet.

The Wire Gymnastics Club have joined forces with Aerial Gymnastics Academy from Croxteth and have sent a team of 63 gymnasts to the World Gymnaestrada in Amsterdam.

Participants from the two clubs have joined more than 20,000 participants from 50 other nations to create a spectacular festival of gymnastics.

Aerial head coach Theresa Potts, 47, said: “We think it really epitomises what Gymnaestrada is all about.

“In the lockdown, these two clubs kept in touch and kept each other motivated via Zoom meetings, fun activities over Zoom. We really stayed connected through our gymnastics community.

“When we came out of the lockdown and started doing competitions again, our clubs were quite friendly and we would visit each other’s clubs. We decided to do a routine symbolising the struggles of lockdown and how everything has turned out OK for our clubs.

“We’ve both been before, but we wanted to do a joint project for this Gymnaestrada.”

First staged in 1953, the World Gymnaestrada is a non-competitive and inclusive event held every four years that celebrates the joy of the sport, reflecting the new vision launched earlier this year for gymnastics in the UK to deliver an uplifting experience for all.

The event is open to everybody, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, culture, or ability or disability.

The 2023 edition is seeing participants wow the crowds with gymnastics displays in locations across the Dutch capital until August 5.

The Wire and Aerial are performing up to five times throughout the week, including forming part of a mass group ‘Great Britain’ team performance alongside the other 30 British clubs in attendance.

The focus on providing an enjoyable and memorable experience for participants and the audience alike is what is at the heart of the World Gymnaestrada and why this year British Gymnastics is supporting a record number of gymnasts to take part.

Potts added: “They are so excited as this team of gymnasts is made up of gymnasts who usually would not get to do that.

“It’s something for everybody, there’s British finalists in this team right down to two-piece low level competition gymnasts. For them to all be on an equal level, going out as Team GB, they’re excited.”

British Gymnastics are bringing the joy and celebration of the World Gymnaestrada experience to life across its digital channels throughout the event, and you can read more about the new vision for gymnastics in the UK to deliver an uplifting experience for all at www.british-gymnastics.org/vision.