Sam Maggs, Gymnastics Director at Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre is one of eight athletes from the region recognised by British Gymnastics for an outstanding contribution to GBR TeamGym.
TeamGym is a competitive sport created by the European Union of Gymnastics. Athletes perform three disciplines; floor, tumbling and trampette – all requiring teamwork, technique and acrobatic skills.
The British Gymnastics Championships Series was recently hosted at the Echo Arena, Liverpool. British Gymnastics honoured 15 gymnasts from across the country who have represented GBR at a minimum of three Senior International competitions.
Eight gymnasts from the Portsmouth School of Gymnastics, including Sam have been honoured.
Sam joined Portsmouth School of Gymnastics in 1996, and was part of the first Senior British Championships winning team in 1999. Sam then went onto achieve six British Senior Championships titles representing GBR in 2000 (Birmingham, GBR), 2002 (Paris, France), 2004 (Dornbirn, Austria) and 2006 (Ostrava, Czech Republic).
An exceptional vaulter and TeamGym member, Sam progressed to coach FunGym and TeamGym at the club.
Sam is now Director of Gymnastics at Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre and is making her career inspiring the next generation of women’s artistic gymnasts.
“I’m very honoured to be given this award by British Gymnastics, said Sam.
“My TeamGym journey has been a fabulous one which has enabled me to travel and make lifelong friends along the way. I’ll be forever grateful to my coaches Julian & Bev Such for their support, encouragement and dedication to TeamGym. Without them none of it would have been possible. I hope to continue their legacy and look to take Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre to its highest level of potential.”
“We are so very proud of Sam and delighted that her outstanding achievements have been recognised by British Gymnastics, adds Claire Oatridge, Head of BH Live’s Operations in Portsmouth.
“She knows the sheer grit, determination and hard work that it takes to reach international standards and is a fantastic ambassador for encouraging and developing local talent.”
Cllr Linda Symes, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure & Sport, said: “It is fantastic Sam is being recognised for her outstanding contribution. She is a great example of the amazing individuals we have in this city and I hope she continues to take Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre from strength to strength.”
To find out more about Sam and Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre visit bhliveactive.org.uk
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562
About BH Live
BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.
With 3.4 million visits a year and over £39 million turnover, the organisation is changing lives – placing it at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.
In 2016/17 BH Live hosted more than 500 events, sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment tickets. They had 2.9 million activity attendances in its leisure centres and welcomed 100,000 conference and exhibition delegates into its venues. This contributed an estimated £44 million to the local economy through business and cultural tourism. For more visit bhlive.org.uk
In Portsmouth, BH Live operates the following venues, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council:
- Pyramids – One of Portsmouth’s leading entertainment and leisure complexes with views of Southsea beach and the Solent. It has fun pools, flumes, waves and a three-level soft play adventure world. There is also a multipurpose gym, more than 60 weekly fitness classes and a spa. Regular live music performances, conferences, exhibitions and private events are hosted in the venue.
- Mountbatten Leisure Centre – Portsmouth’s flagship leisure and event venue with a national-class 50m swimming pool, 150 station gym, 8 court sports hall, 2 squash courts, spin and dance studios, a cycle velodrome, athletics track, function suites, and an onsite café
- Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre – a state-of-the-art gymnastics hall, physiotherapy room and meeting room
- Portsmouth Tennis Centre – A 10 court tennis facility in the north of Portsmouth (just off the M275) consisting of 4 indoor courts and 6 floodlit outdoor courts. A comprehensive tennis coaching programme caters for all ages and abilities and is the hub of disability tennis in the area. The programme runs sessions for tots, juniors, adults and also includes variations of the sport such as cardio tennis and touch tennis.
- Eastney Swimming Pool – 20m swimming pool and a spectators’ area
- Wimbledon Park Sports Centre – 20 station gym, 5 badminton courts, basketball court and sports hall
- Charter Community Sports Centre – 20m swimming pool, 20 station gym, sports hall and an outdoor multi-use games area
Get social with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter @BHLIVE_UK