YMCA Barry gymnasts Millie Williams and Azaria Karim recently competed in the Welsh Elite Grading Championships and due to their high performances they both qualified to represent Wales at the British Elite Grade Championships.

The British gymnastics elite grading system is designed to prepare those gymnasts with the foundation skills necessary for senior elite gymnastics in the future.

Eight year old Azaria Karim competed in the youngest age group, Elite compulsory Grade 4.

This was the first time Azaria had competed in a British competition and she performed with great maturity for her young age and learnt a great deal from the experience. After competing five extremely complex routines, Azaria was ranked 27th out of the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Significantly, in the range and conditioning routine, a sequence designed to test a young gymnast’s strength and flexibility, Azaria was placed 10th. Alongside her Welsh team mates out of thirteen teams, Wales achieved 5th position.

This was a fantastic achievement for Azaria at such a young age and her personal coach Sophie Erickson.

In the Elite Compulsory 3 category, nine year old Millie Williams had upgraded her skills level tremendously and competed hugely complicated routines. Millie who trains with the Welsh Elite Academy held her nerve and had a phenomenal competition.

Millie against the best in Britain for her age achieved 6th on Beam, 5th on Range and Conditioning, 5th on Bars and Millie became the Vault and Floor British Champion. In the overall category with all five apparatus combined, Millie became the British Silver medallist. Alongside her Welsh Team mates, Wales became the British Team Champions for Elite Grade 3. An absolutely tremendous achievement for Millie, Wales and YMCA Barry.

Could your son or daughter be YMCA Barry’s next future champion? YMCA Barry gymnastics have limited amount of spaces in classes and provide gymnastics for children and young people of all abilities, from beginners to International Elite gymnasts.

Classes range from parent and toddler gymtots, preschool independent classes, recreational gymnastics for males and females, teen gymnastics, cheerleading, trampolining, tumbling, disability and competitive gymnastics for males and females. For more information please call 01446 724000, email sophie@ymcabarry.org.uk or follow on social media @ymcabarry