“I couldn’t be prouder of them" - ambitious Fylde Coast Rhythmic Gymnasts set for world stage championships

A group of talented Fylde Coast gymnasts will take to the world stage this week when they represent Great Britain at the 42nd Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt, Germany.

The group, made up of Erin Byrne, Elisa Robinson, Jersey Aylward, Tallulah Crabtree and Lottie Cahill fly out on Thursday for the biggest competition of their careers, where they will line up alongside the very best rhythmic gymnastics nations in the world.

Their selection is a major achievement for both the gymnasts and the local club, with the Fylde Coast team becoming the first British Senior Group to be selected for the World Championships since 2021.

It is the latest milestone in what has already been a hugely successful year for the group. They have been crowned both English and British Senior Group All-Around Champions, while also proudly representing Great Britain across Europe.

International competitions in Greece, Romania and Portugal have seen the group produce some of the best results achieved by a British team, before they went on to represent GBR at the European Championships in Bulgaria earlier this summer.

Now their season reaches another level as they head to Frankfurt to compete on the biggest stage in the sport and continue putting both Great Britain and the Fylde Coast on the international rhythmic gymnastics map.

Head Coach Ana Blackburn said: “I couldn’t be prouder of these girls and everything they have achieved. The level of commitment, sacrifice and hard work they have shown to reach a World Championships has been exemplary.

“We have a fantastic relationship as a group and have been on an incredible journey together, but the road to get here certainly hasn’t been easy. The girls have had to prove themselves time and time again through a number of selection events, alongside the demands of training and competing throughout the season.

“They have shown so much determination and belief in what we are trying to achieve, and to now see them preparing to represent Great Britain on the world stage is incredibly special for me as their coach.

“I also want to say a huge thank you to all of the parents and families. Their support and sacrifices behind the scenes have been a massive part of this journey and we simply couldn’t have reached this point without them.

“Now we want the girls to go out there in Frankfurt, enjoy this moment, perform with confidence and show the world what this group is capable of.”

Reaching this level, however, comes with a considerable financial commitment. Despite representing their country at major championships around the world, rhythmic gymnastics is largely self-funded, meaning the costs of training, equipment, travel and international competition are met by the gymnasts and their families.

As this ambitious young team continues to make waves internationally, Fylde Coast Rhythmic Academy is hoping local businesses and individuals will get behind them and help support the next stage of their journey.

Sponsorship of any level could make a real difference as the group looks to build on its success, continue competing against the world’s best and raise the profile of British rhythmic gymnastics on the international stage.

Anyone interested in sponsoring or supporting the team is encouraged to contact [email protected].