Imogen Cairns
Encyclopedia
Imogen Jane Cairns is an English gymnast
. She has won the British Junior Championship twice, in 2003 & 2004. She is coached by Liz Kincaid at the Academy of Gymnastics in Portishead, Somerset
. In 2005 at the DTB Cup She placed 4th on vault and 3rd for her floor exercise. At the 2005 British Championships she achieved 3rd in the all-around, 2nd for vault and 2nd for floor exercise. Imogen's first world championships were in 2005 in Melbourne
where she became the first British woman ever to qualify for a world vault final. She places 8th, showing a Yurchenko
with 1.5 twists and a piked Lucconi.
Her greatest achievement to date was winning a gold medal in the individual women's vault at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne
, Australia
. She also won silver with England in the combined team event at the same competition. Imogen was narrowly denied a bronze medal in the all-around, behind Hollie Dykes
of Australia
, despite the fact that the latter had fallen on every piece of apparatus. The British federation complained bitterly about this on their official website, implying that the reason for the delay after Dykes' last score was because the judges were working out what to give her to ensure she would take the bronze.
Later in 2006, Imogen was a member of the British team in the 2006 European Championships in Volos
, Greece
. After injuries to Beth Tweddle
and Shavahn Church
, Imogen was left as the most experienced member of a three athlete squad, and her performances helped the embattled British team to seventh place. She also competed in the vault final, and placed 8th once again. There was no all-around competition, but in the qualifying rounds Imogen's all-around scores were 10th highest. No British gymnast has bettered this in a European all-around competition.
After a successful performance at the 2006 British Championships Cairns was virtually certain to be named to the team for the World Championships in Aarhus
but injury prevented this. She has competed once since, in the World Cup Finals in São Paulo
where she once again placed 8th on vault.
Since 2006 Imogen has had many other successes despite a struggle overcoming injury. At the 2008 British Nationals held in Guildford
she performed brilliantly all weekend earning her the national vault and floor titles as well as a silver on beam.
Originally named as first travelling reserve for Britain's 2008 Beijing Olympics team Cairns has since found herself a spot on the competing team following the unfortunate injury and withdrawal of gymnast Laura Jones
.
Cairns was named for the 2010 Commonwealth Games squad and played a large role in England's silver medal. She also became Commonwealth championship on floor and vault. After her inspirational performances, Cairns admitted that she was thinking of retiring but due to her performances she decided to continue until London 2012.
Imogen also competed at the 2010 world later in October, die to Danusia Francis' being unable to compete. She put in strong performance, on vault, beam and floor to help Great Britain to a seventh place finnish in the team final. Imogen also qualified for the vault final, where she finnished 5th.
Imogen was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2011 World Artistic Championships in Tokyo. She helped Team GB qualify a womens team for London 2012. They finnished in 5th place in the final, Cairns contributed on floor and vault. Imogen was hoping to qualify for the vault final but it was not to be.
Gymnast
Gymnasts are people who participate in the sports of either artistic gymnastics, trampolining, or rhythmic gymnastics.See gymnasium for the origin of the word gymnast from gymnastikos.-Female artistic:Australia...
. She has won the British Junior Championship twice, in 2003 & 2004. She is coached by Liz Kincaid at the Academy of Gymnastics in Portishead, Somerset
Portishead, Somerset
Portishead is a coastal town on the Severn Estuary within the unitary authority of North Somerset, which falls within the ceremonial county of Somerset England. It has a population of 22,000, an increase of over 3,000 since the 2001 census, with a growth rate of 40 per cent, considerably in excess...
. In 2005 at the DTB Cup She placed 4th on vault and 3rd for her floor exercise. At the 2005 British Championships she achieved 3rd in the all-around, 2nd for vault and 2nd for floor exercise. Imogen's first world championships were in 2005 in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
where she became the first British woman ever to qualify for a world vault final. She places 8th, showing a Yurchenko
Yurchenko (vault)
Yurchenko is the name of both a specific vault and a vault family in artistic gymnastics. The Yurchenko was named after Soviet gymnast Natalia Yurchenko, who originated the vault in the early 1980s....
with 1.5 twists and a piked Lucconi.
Her greatest achievement to date was winning a gold medal in the individual women's vault at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. She also won silver with England in the combined team event at the same competition. Imogen was narrowly denied a bronze medal in the all-around, behind Hollie Dykes
Hollie Dykes
Hollie Johnston Dykes is a retired Australian gymnast who was born in Gold Coast, Queensland and began gymnastics at the age of four and a half. She started training at the Australian Institute of Sport in 1998 and was awarded a full scholarship there in 2000...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, despite the fact that the latter had fallen on every piece of apparatus. The British federation complained bitterly about this on their official website, implying that the reason for the delay after Dykes' last score was because the judges were working out what to give her to ensure she would take the bronze.
Later in 2006, Imogen was a member of the British team in the 2006 European Championships in Volos
Volos
Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. After injuries to Beth Tweddle
Beth Tweddle
Elizabeth "Beth" Kimberly Tweddle MBE is an English gymnast. Tweddle is a three time world champion having won the 2010 World Championships and 2006 World Championshipson the uneven bars and the 2009 World Championships on the floor...
and Shavahn Church
Shavahn Church
Shavahn Church is a British gymnast, who lives and trains in California. She formerly competed for the United States but decided in 2005 to represent Great Britain. She made her major international debut at the 2005 world championships in Melbourne...
, Imogen was left as the most experienced member of a three athlete squad, and her performances helped the embattled British team to seventh place. She also competed in the vault final, and placed 8th once again. There was no all-around competition, but in the qualifying rounds Imogen's all-around scores were 10th highest. No British gymnast has bettered this in a European all-around competition.
After a successful performance at the 2006 British Championships Cairns was virtually certain to be named to the team for the World Championships in Aarhus
Aarhus
Aarhus or Århus is the second-largest city in Denmark. The principal port of Denmark, Aarhus is on the east side of the peninsula of Jutland in the geographical center of Denmark...
but injury prevented this. She has competed once since, in the World Cup Finals in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
where she once again placed 8th on vault.
Since 2006 Imogen has had many other successes despite a struggle overcoming injury. At the 2008 British Nationals held in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
she performed brilliantly all weekend earning her the national vault and floor titles as well as a silver on beam.
Originally named as first travelling reserve for Britain's 2008 Beijing Olympics team Cairns has since found herself a spot on the competing team following the unfortunate injury and withdrawal of gymnast Laura Jones
Laura Jones (gymnast)
Laura Victoria Jones is a British gymnast selected for the Great Britain team at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games but had to drop out due to injury, to be replaced by Imogen Cairns....
.
Cairns was named for the 2010 Commonwealth Games squad and played a large role in England's silver medal. She also became Commonwealth championship on floor and vault. After her inspirational performances, Cairns admitted that she was thinking of retiring but due to her performances she decided to continue until London 2012.
Imogen also competed at the 2010 world later in October, die to Danusia Francis' being unable to compete. She put in strong performance, on vault, beam and floor to help Great Britain to a seventh place finnish in the team final. Imogen also qualified for the vault final, where she finnished 5th.
Imogen was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2011 World Artistic Championships in Tokyo. She helped Team GB qualify a womens team for London 2012. They finnished in 5th place in the final, Cairns contributed on floor and vault. Imogen was hoping to qualify for the vault final but it was not to be.
External links
- Imogen Cairns Official Website