Black Country pair receive awards for gymnastics

Warley-based Lee Woolls, head men’s coach at the City of Birmingham Gymnastics Club, was given the Outstanding Coach of the Year Award, while his athlete Joe Fraser, a former Sandwell Academy student, was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

It’s the second year in a row that Woolls has picked up the award after coaching Fraser to a gold medal on the parallel bars at the Artistic World Championships in Stuttgart.

“The world champion in Joe Fraser meant more than people probably realised,” Woolls said.

“It’s four years of hard work that have gone into that.

“We sat down after Rio and we decided what score we needed, what routine we needed, how we’re going to get there.

“Believe it or not, that routine he competed in Stuttgart was planned three years ago.

“It’s really satisfying as a coach to know that your long-term planning really makes a difference.

“To sit down and understand where your gymnasts’ strengths are, and to marry the score and routine up together, to predict the score to beat – it was very special.”

Fraser’s routine earned Britain’s first ever world medal on the apparatus in a ‘surreal’ moment for the 21-year-old.

“It was a surreal moment becoming world champion. It still doesn’t seem real, but I’m slowly coming to terms with it,” he said. “I’m now more motivated than ever to keep achieving.

“I’m excited for this year. It’s my first Olympic cycle so I’m just looking forward to seeing what Great Britain can achieve at the Games.”

The awards evening was held at The International Centre in Telford on Saturday, and acknowledged the achievements of gymnasts, volunteers, coaches, clubs and community members across the country.