Ex-Matravers student shines at Olympics

RHYTHMIC gymnast and ex-Matravers student Francesca Fox wowed spectators from all over the world when she competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games last week.

Francesca was part of Great Britain’s rhythmic gymnastics team, which was the first GB team in the discipline to compete in the Olympics. Her fellow team members were; Louisa Pouli, Rachel Smith, Jade Faulkner, Lynne Hutchison and Georgina Cassar.

In the competition, routines are performed to music using various types of apparatus such as ribbons and hoops. Points are awarded for difficulty, artistry, and execution, while points are deducted for infringements such as stepping outside the competition area. The team competed over two days, with a great home crowd spurring them on, and they finished 12th with a score of 48.000.

Francesca tweeted, “Sooo many tears of joy. Can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

The 20-year-old rhythmic gymnast won bronze as part of the women’s team at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010 while she was still studying at Matravers.