YMCA Barry are ecstatic by their female gymnasts' recent achievement of successfully being accepted into the Welsh Development Gymnastics Squad and South Central Wales Gymnastics Squad.

The South Central Development Squad covers all the gymnastics club in South Central Wales, which accepted gymnasts who were aged seven or eight in the year.

The gymnasts all worked extremely hard and their foundation gymnastics were tested by the Welsh National Coaches.

Fantastically, YMCA Barry secured five of the spaces: Olivia Melinn, Isla Enos, Poppy Falconer, Connie Clark and Mya Edwards. This was a brilliant achievement for the girls and the club who had one of the largest success rates in the area.

These five girls will start their training with the National Coaches once a month from September.

A prestigious space in the Welsh Development Squad is extremely hard to come by with only a select few being accepted from the whole of Wales.

Six-year-old Olivia Melinn gained one of the ten spaces available for her age group from Wales and nine year Azaria Karim regained her space which she has maintained since she was six years old.

Olivia and Azaria underwent many exercises to test their flexibility, strength, power, co-ordination, courage and many more skills that are required for high level gymnastics.

Olivia is now attending her Welsh Development Squad lessons once a month with the Welsh National coaches.

Azaria Karim not only retained her space, but due to her recent development has been offered a place in the Elite Welsh Gymnastics Academy to train with the National Elite Squad and the Elite National Coaches.

An absolutely fantastic achievement for Azaria to have the recognition for her hard work.

Do you have a son or daughter who would like to try gymnastics?

YMCA Barry is the most successful gymnastics club in the Vale of Glamorgan for male and female gymnasts.

YMCA Barry caters for all levels of gymnastics from baby gymnastics to teen gymnastics, as well as cheerleading, tumbling, disability, trampolining and competition men’s and women’s artistic.

To get more information please call 01446 724000, email sophie@ymcabarry.org.uk, or follow on social media @ymcabarry.