Three-time Olympian and two-time World medalist Becky Downie joins us today. The British gymnastics icon opens up about her turmultuous year post-Paris, going coach-less for a bit, how the apparatus norms need to be changed and if the cultural of British Gymnastics has changed post-Whyte review.
INTERVIEW: BECKY DOWNIE
- Today we’re joined by one of the most accomplished and resilient gymnasts in British history, Becky Downie
- Why did she step away after Paris, but never planned on retiring?
- What it’s like to return to elite gymnastics after rupturing your Achilles TWICE
- The injuries, setbacks, and perseverance between Tokyo to Paris
- What happened when she didn’t have a coach or a gym
- Why she decided to compete at the European Championships over the Commonwealth Games and the challenge of adapting to different equipment between meets
- The Paris Olympic experience, including the last-minute coaching changes within the British team
- Where Becky thinks the Code of Points is taking uneven bar routine construction heading into Los Angeles 2028
- The mental and physical impact of elite gymnastics and learning to process her career after stepping away
- The importance of athlete advocacy, speaking up for gymnasts, and cultural changes needed in the sport
- Looking back on what she has learned after nearly two decades at the elite level including career highlights, lessons learned, and what’s next after competition
CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold Open – “I Wasn’t a Functioning Human”
00:25 Introduction: Becky Downie’s Journey to Paris
05:27 Life After Paris: Retirement, Fibroids & Starting Again
08:08 Discovering the Fibroids That Changed Everything
14:42 Dating, Family & Wanting Children
15:27 Paris Olympics: New Coaches, New Team Dynamic
20:00 Trauma, Lilleshall & Recovering After Tokyo
31:19 Learning to Heal & Process Trauma
37:39 Gymless: Losing Her Coach & Finding a New Training Home
40:12 Why LA 2028 Is Still the Goal
44:07 Sponsor: Huel
45:37 Body Maintenance, Strength Training & Supplements
51:30 Has British Gymnastics Really Changed?
54:22 Equipment Injustice: The Uneven Bars Nobody Talks About
57:03 Why Gymnova Bars Are Holding Athletes Back
01:01:08 Two Achilles Ruptures: What It Really Feels Like
01:08:25 Athlete Autonomy & Listening to Your Own Body
01:11:17 Could Becky Become an Athlete Representative?
01:12:34 The Book Becky Wants to Write
01:15:33 Final Thoughts & Looking Toward LA
01:15:43 Update: Coach, New Gym & Commonwealth Games Decision
REFERENCES
- The Whyte Review
- Jane Allen MBE awarded
- Gymnasts for Change and Gymnasts for Change International
- Becky Downie GymCastic Playlist
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Cover art & photograph © GymCastic / Steve Cooper. All rights reserved
Glasgow 2015 photographs © GymCastic / Christy Linder. All rights reserved
Video Clips © GymCastic. All rights reserved
