Elite Coventry Gymnasts Shine Brightest at Tokyo Olympics in UK Spotlight!

The youngsters have trained for years in the hope of being chosen for the national squad [King Edmund Club] Six young stars from an acrobatic gymnastics club have been selected to represent Team GB. The acro-gymnasts, from King Edmund Gym Club in Yate, South Gloucestershire, are now a step closer to competing in major tournaments such as world championships. Shayla, one of the six, said finding out they were selected was "surreal" after years of training.

She told the BBC's Extra Time programme : "We've been working hard for it for so long. " In acrobatic gymnastics, partners or groups perform choreographed floor-based routines set to music, using each other for lifts, throws and balances. Club manager Mark Thorne said: "It's a great achievement for them, the coaching team, and it's a great recognition for the club.

" More from Somerset Woman with rare blood feels 'honoured' to donate Cash, drugs and weapons seized in police raids Man, 91, makes 300 wooden toys for charity Acrobatic gymnastics is not included in the upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 but it has been rising in popularity in recent years, according to British Gymnastics. The six who were selected are: Shayla, from Yate Kian Hawks, 19, from Weston-super-Mare Kimmi, from Yate Esme Mathias, 20, from Yate Ruby, from Swindon, Wiltshire Lottie, from Bath The sport involves gymnastics routines featuring difficult lifts [Jade Gibbs Photography] Hawks said there was "no bigger sense of pride" after being chosen for Team GB. "It's your one motivation in the gym and it finally happens," he said.

"All those years of hard work suddenly come bursting out in that one moment where you hear you're a GB athlete for the sport you love. " Lottie said: "Not enough people know about acro-gymnastics... We should be in the Olympics as well, we need more recognition.