Izzy Songhurst, Bryony Page and Kirsty Way eyeing world trampoline glory
- Published
British trampolinists Kirsty Way (left), Bryony Page (centre) and Izzy Songhurst (right) are training for the upcoming Trampoline World Championships in Poole, Dorset
World Trampoline Championships |
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Venue: Utilita Arena, Birmingham Dates: 10-12 November |
Coverage: Live stream of the finals on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app; BBC Two coverage on 12 November 14:45-17:00 GMT |
Three athletes from the same gymnastics club have their sights set on World Championship trampoline glory.
Olympic medallist Bryony Page, two-time British champion Izzy Songhurst and World and Euro medallist Kirsty Way have been selected for GB at the World Trampoline Championships, external in Birmingham.
The friends will compete alongside and against each other for medals and Olympic qualification.
More than 1,000 athletes are due to take part in the event in November.
"I have to really prepare myself this is a big deal," Page told BBC South Today.
"It is like an Olympic qualifying event and I want to do really well.
"I'm nervous but excited so it is a nice balance - I'd be worried if I wasn't feeling nervous to be honest."
'Really big competition'
Page is the most experienced trampolinist out of the three who all train at Poole Gymnastics and Trampolining Club in Dorset.
It will be the first FIG World Trampoline Championships held on UK soil since 2011.
Songhurst, who recently retained her British Senior title, believes the home crowd can spur her and her team-mates on to victory.
"It's really exciting," she said.
"There is a massive difference when it is a home event.
"Because this is an Olympic qualifier for us it is a really big competition so I think having that home crowd support and that sense of community around is going to be amazing, I am really looking forward to it."
'We are all competing for medals'
Kirsty Way competed for GB at the World Trampoline Championships in 2022
Athletes competing at the World Champs will be going for titles in four disciplines - individual, synchronised (pairs), double mini trampoline and tumbling.
Page and Songhurst will go head-to-head in the individual competition and then team-up for a shot at the synchronised title.
Way is aiming to become the double mini trampoline champion and says it's going to be a special moment in her career.
"A major competition on home soil is something we have been waiting years for," she added.
"My parents, friends and family have never seen me at an international competition so the pressure is huge for me.
"I want to perform for them and I am so happy they finally get to see me, I can't wait to get out there."
Way has been training at the Poole based club since the age of 12 and says it is a brilliant place to grow as an athlete.
"Poole has played a massive role in my journey, the coaches and gymnasts are all supportive, they are my family and this club is my second home," she said.
Double Olympic medallist and former World and European champion Page says putting in the work off the trampoline is just as important as the bouncing.
"I focus on what is going to maximise my scoring potential and that adds a level of drive to my training when it comes to the work off the trampoline," she added.
"Behind the scenes stuff like nutrition and psychological become crucial although being on the trampoline is the most exciting bit."
Songhurst says although she will go head-to-head with her synchro team-mate Page in the individual event, they all want the same outcome overall.
"We are all competing for medals but we all want to see each other do well and reach our full potential," she said.
"So when we are in direct competition I don't think it matters because we all just want the best for each other.
"The fact that Bryony trains here as well just means we can keep supporting and motivating one another to reach that goal together."