Two Welsh Gymnasts Announce Retirement in the Sport
TWO GYMNASTS WHO COMPETED FOR TEAM WALES AT THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES HAVE BOTH RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEIR RETIREMENT FROM ELITE COMPETITION. HOLLY JONES, A WOMEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNAST, WHO WENT TO GOLD COAST 2018,AND RHYTHMIC GYMNAST LAURYN CARPENTER, WHO COMPETED AT BIRMINGHAM 2022, HAVE BOTH DECIDED TO CALL TIME ON THEIR COMPETITIVE CAREERS.
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For Holly, 22, who hails from Morriston. It brings to an end, a journey that started at the age of three at her local gymnastics club in Swansea.
She burst on to the scene in October 2016, bringing home three gold medals from the Junior Commonwealth Championships in Namibia, where she took floor and vault honours as well as enjoying team glory.
She would go on to become a two-time British senior women’s vault champion and only narrowly missed out on what have been a stunning Commonwealth bronze medal in the women’s vault final in Australia where she finished fourth.
Having firmly set her sights on going one better at Birmingham 2022, a snapped Achilles in January last year meant she would miss out on the chance to represent Team Wales at a second Games.
“I’m so proud of everything I’ve accomplished in gymnastics and I never would have dreamt of all the things I’ve achieved,” she said.
“I am so grateful for the experiences the sport has given me; I got to travel the world and have memories to last a lifetime.
“Gymnastics is more than a sport and it has truly changed my life.
“It’s time to turn a new chapter and share of all my experience to the new generation of gymnasts.”
Having graduated with a Sport and Exercise Science degree from Swansea University last year, Holly is now coaching full-time and inspiring the next generation at Swansea Gymnastics Centre.
Newport-born Lauryn began her own journey in rhythmic gymnastics aged 10 at Valleys Gymnastics Academy in Newport, before switching to Llanelli Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy – and then moving under the guidance of national coach Nia Evans.
She would go on to realise her dream in Birmingham last summer.
“To compete in the Commonwealth Games had been a very big goal for me over the past few years,” said Lauryn. “The drive it gave me to push myself harder in training almost every day.
“I was so proud to be chosen to represent Team Wales and it has given me an experience to remember for life.”
Lauryn said a combination of factors, including injury and rhythmic gymnastics not featuring at the 2026 Games, all played a part in her own decision to finish.
The 18-year-old now plans to return to her studies, having put them on hold at the beginning of the year to fully focus on the build up to Commonwealth Games, while also hopes to coach and inspire the next generation of Welsh rhythmic gymnasts to enjoy the sport.
Yn ddiweddar mae dwy gymnast fu’n cystadlu dros Tîm Cymru yng Ngemau’r Gymanwlad wedi cyhoeddi eu bod yn ymddeol o gystadlu elite.
Mae Holly Jones, gymnast artistig merched, aeth i Gold Coast 2018, a’r gymnast rhythmig Lauryn Carpenter, fu’n cystadlu yn Birmingham 2022, wedi penderfynnu rhoi’r gorau i’w gyrfaoedd cystadlu.
I Holly, 22, sy’n dod o Dreforys, mae hyn yn ddiwedd siwrne ddechreuodd pan oedd hi’n dair oed yn ei chlwb gymnasteg lleol yn Abertawe.
Daeth I’r brig yn Hydref 2016 pan enillodd dair medal aur ym Mhencampwriaethau Iau y Gymanwlad yn Namibia, gan gipio anrhydeddau llawr a chromen yn ogystal â mwynhau llwyddiant tîm.
Aeth ymlaen I fod yn bencampwraig cromen merched hyn a daeth yn agos at ennill medal efydd y Gymanwlad yn rownd derfynol y gromen y i ferched yn Awstralia, pan ddaeth yn bedwerydd.
Wrth anelu at ddringo’n uwch yn Birmingham 2022, roedd torri Echel yn Ionawr y llynedd yn golygu y byddai’n colli’r cyfle I gynrychioli Tîm Cymru yn ei hail Gemau Cymanwlad.
Dywedodd,
“Dw’I mor falch o bopeth dw’I wedi ei gyflawni mewn gymnasteg, a faswn i ddim wedi breuddwydio cyflawni gymaint
“Dw’I mor ddiolchgar am y profiadau gefais yn y gamp; cefais deithio’r byd, ac mae gen I atgofion fydd yn parhau am byth.
“Mae gymnasteg yn fwy na champ yn unig ac mae wedi trawsnewid fy mywyd.
“Mae’n bryd troi at bennod newydd, a rhannu fy holl brofiadau gyda’r genhedlaeth newydd o gymnastwyr.”
Wedi graddio mewn Chwaraeon ac Ymarfer Corff ym Mhrifysgol Abertawe y llynedd, mae Holly nawr yn hyfforddi’n llawn amser ac yn ysbrydoli’r genhedlaeth nesaf yng Nghanolfan Gymnasteg Abertawe.
Ganwyd Lauryn yng Nghasnewydd. Dechreuodd ei siwrne hi mewn rhythmig yn ddeg oed yn Academi Gymnasteg y Cymoedd, cyn symud i Academi Gymnasteg Rhythmig Llanelli, – ac wedyn arweiniad yr hyfforddwr cenedlaethol, Nia Evans.
Aeth ymlaen i wireddu ei breuddwyd yn Birmingham yr haf diwethaf.
Dywedodd,
“Roedd cystadlu yng Ngemau’r Gymanwlad yn nod bwysig iawn i mi yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf. Dyna oedd yn fy nghymell i wthio fy hun yn galetach bron bob dydd wrth hyfforddi.
“Roeddwn mor falch i gael fy newis i gynrychioli Tîm Cymru gan roi profiad imi ei gofio am weddill fy mywyd.”
Dywedodd Lauryn fod cyfuniad o resymau am ei phenderfyniad i roi’r gorau iddi, gan gynnwys anaf, a’r ffaith na fydd yna gymnasteg rhythmig yng Ngemau 2026.
Mae hi nawr yn 18 oed, ac yn bwriadu ail gychwyn astudiaethau roddwyd naill ochr ddechrau’r flwyddyn er mwyn iddi allu canolbwyntio ar baratoi ar gyfer Gemau’r Gymanwlad. Mae hi hefyd yn gobeithio hyfforddi ac ysbrydoli y genhedlaeth nesaf o gymnastwyr rhythmig i fwynhau’r gamp.
