A Dagenham gymnast is being tipped for the 2016 Olympics after she blew away European competition to win the asymmetric bars in Madrid last week.
Twelve-year-old Chantelle Halford, from Stanford-Le-Hope, has had a bumper month securing top prize at the Pozuelo Cup in Madrid before winning the bars again on her return this weekend in the London Championships.
Earlier in the month Chantelle finished 4th in her age group and 10th overall at the 2010 British Espoir Championships in Gloucester as she proved her all-round gymnastic talent.
Lorraine Atkinson, Director of Coaching at East London Gymnastics Club, said: “We’re all really pleased for Chantelle and her future is looking really promising!
“London 2012 is too soon for her age group but it is all looking very positive for a trip to Rio in the Olympics in 2016!”
The asymmetric bars are exclusive to female gymnasts and require the gymnast to perform complex flips between a lower and upper bar before performing a clean dismount.
Chantelle trains daily at the East London Gymnastics Club in Beckton and competes in the under-14 category often against girls a year older than herself.
“It’s just unbelievable!” said proud dad, Christopher Halford.
“The trainers are over the moon and I’m just so proud of her.
“We were expecting her to do well but to come home with first place against other girls up to 14 years old is just amazing.”