Gemma is finally back in big time
STAR Welsh gymnast Gemma Frizelle has been back on the big stage for the first time in two years.
Frizelle, a member of Llanelli Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy and a strong contender for selection for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, was back in top-level action for the first time since 2019 when mixing it with the continent’s best at the Rhythmic European Championships in Varna, Bulgaria.
Carmarthen-born Frizelle 23, was one of three senior individual gymnasts competing for Great Britain.
It also was her first major championship appearance since her outing at the Rhythmic Worlds in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2018.
She competed in three events, scoring 16.600 with hoop, which was her best through qualifying and was yet more valuable experience as she turns her attention back to domestic success at next month’s Welsh Rhythmic Championships.
Meanwhile, fellow Wales Commonwealth Games hopeful Joe Cemlyn-jones was in action for Great Britain and has set his sights on impressing during the World Championship trials later this year.
The 21-year-old men’s artistic star narrowly missed out on a medal at the latest FIG World Challenge Cup series event in Osijek, Croatia, finishing fourth in the parallel bars final.
Having qualified with a score of 13.900 on the Thursday to make the top eight, he returned a score of 13.833 among a highquality field in the final, finishing just behind Bulgaria’s David Huddleston (who has a Bulgarian mother) who took bronze (14.266).
Reigning European parallel bars champion Ferhat Arican of Turkey (14.833) grabbed gold.
The Bristol-born gymnast, who represents Wales thanks to his Welsh grandfather, is set to compete at the Men’s British Championships in September in Cardiff and will again be out to impress in what will be a trial event for October’s World Artistic Championships in Japan.