Acrobatic gymnast Hannah Baughn has her sights on a European Games medal after she and mixed team partner Ryan Bartlett qualified for the finals of Sunday’s balance and dynamic competition – a feat also matched by the women’s team.
Baughn and Bartlett were in promising form at the National Gymnastics Arena on Wednesday posting 28.360 from their balance routine to qualify with the third highest score behind Russia and Belgium.
It was a similar score in the dynamic qualification too, as they went a shade better with their score of 28.450 for third, with Russia again pipping Belgium.
Both of those scores count towards Friday’s all-around final too, with Baughn, a double British, European Junior and European Dynamic champion, relishing the chance to perform on the big stage once again.
"It felt amazing to compete for TeamGB, we've never done a multi sport event before and the crowd were incredible,” she said.
“The balance routine went even better than expected and were really happy with where we stand.
“Having both the GB fans and the locals supporting and encouraging us felt amazing.
“Looking ahead we think we may even be able to go better and take silver in the all-around but any medals would be fantastic.”
The women’s team of Josie Russell, Jennifer Bailey and Cicely Irwin were in equally impressive form, qualifying fourth highest with their dynamic routine with 28.040 as well as third highest in the balance qualification with 28.190.
“On the dynamic routine we were 0.03 behind third place (Belarus 28.070) and we finished in fourth so I think we know that if we improved some of our execution in that routine, which we definitely could have, then we have the potential to pull up to third,” said 20-year-old Russell.
“That was our goal and today was about doing clean routines and securing our spot in the finals.
“But because it was a part of the all-around competition it wasn't like today wouldn't count.
“So we have put ourselves in a position whereby if someone above us does make a mistake and we went clean we can move ahead.
“It's incredibly close and if Russia hadn't gotten a time fault they would have been ahead of us so there is everything to play for in the final.”
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