Whelan buzzing ahead of European Championships

Hannah Whelan insists she's on track for this week's gymnastics European Championships in Sofia - despite 12 months of change.

The two-time Olympian won double bronze on the beam and floor two years ago and hopes to join forces with Rebecca Tunney, Rebecca Downie, Claudia Fragapane and Ruby Harrold to claim a medal in the team event in Sofia.

Much has changed recently for the 21-year old, whose coach Amanda Reddin now heads the national set-up.

But she insists confidence is high of repeating their last team podium at the event, when they struck silver in Birmingham four years ago.

“The whole group dynamic at the British squad and back home at the City of Liverpool has changed.  My team-mates from the 2012 Olympics, Beth Tweddle and Jenni Pinches, have retired and, of course, Amanda has now become the national coach," she said.

"It’s very different, but it’s been over a year now and everyone is very comfortable and very happy; the group of girls we have now are really close and things are going well. My preparations have been going well for Sofia and I’m confident I can do the job for the team.

“My priority for these championships is the team competition and we're aiming high this year.

"I think at the back of our minds we are all aiming for the team final and hopefully a place on the medal podium, if anything else comes individually for me then that’s a bonus.”

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