British Gymnastics extends the Olympics selection process for artistic gymnast Becky Downie as she missed the final trial after her brother died suddenly.
World silver medalist Becky Downie skipped the final trial for the Tokyo Olympics after her brother Josh Downie passed away suddenly. Cricketer Josh Downie collapsed at a net cricket session on May 6 and was pronounced dead later that day.
British Gymnastics extended the women’s Olympic selection process. In the statement, it read that “Following the tragic news the Downie family received last week on the eve of the final Olympic trials in Cardiff we felt it important in such an unprecedented situation to take time to look at how we might be able to grant an extension to the selection window.”
The planned nomination and selection process was delayed and an option for an additional event was added.
Becky Downie took up the option. Her younger sister who is also an Olympic gymnast, Ellie will not attempt to qualify for the Olympics and is taking some time away from sports.
24-year-old cricketer and physical education teacher Josh Downie suffered from a heart attack while playing and collapsed. He was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead that evening. His sister Becky said, “No words can describe the pain we as a family are all feeling right now.” She added that he would “never be forgotten” and said that life without him is “unimaginable”.
29-year-old Downie began her career as a gymnast when she represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. The England team finished in second place. Downie had competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is a 2014 Commonwealth Games champion on the uneven bars and the silver medalist for the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Stuggart, Germany.
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