Yate gymnasts to compete at World Cup in Bulgaria

Esme Mathias (bottom) and Natalia Gilbert (top) are off to the World Cup in Bulgaria

Two gymnasts from South Gloucestershire who compete together in acrobatics are to represent Great Britain at a forthcoming World Cup.

Esme Mathias, 18 and Natalia Gilbert, 17, will be joined in Bulgaria in May by their coach Shanie-Redd Thorne.

They train at the King Edmund club in Yate and have been working together for just over a year.

In October 2023 they won all-around gold competing for Great Britain's Junior Women's pairs.

Miss Mathias said: "I am really excited to go to Bulgaria for my first world cup with Natalia.

"This will be my first experience as senior level gymnast. 

"I am feeling a bit nervous as it will be the first display of our senior moves and routines against our new competitors, but we are feeling hopeful that we will see a respectable placing against our competition."

The teenagers have been working together for just over a year

Miss Gilbert added: "I am really excited to go to Bulgaria as it will be Esme and I's first World Cup together and a good new experience.

"I am slightly nervous as we have recently moved up to the senior category, which means we will be competing more difficult skills.

"We are also aware that the competition may be more tough, so mostly we are looking forward to see where we rank against our competitors, especially as we are new to the senior level."

Esme and Natalia will be joined by their coach Shanie-Redd Thorne (centre) in Bulgaria

Their coach, Ms Thorne, said: "It means a lot as this is my first time going away with the team as a GB coach.

"I do get nervous watching anyone compete on the floor as I know I can't do anything to help them whilst on the floor.

"I just have to trust all the hard work is done before. I just want the girls to go out and have a great experience representing their country in a senior category for the first time."