Commonwealth Games medal means 'everything' to Alice Kinsella
The English women’s gymnastics team in the Gold Coast could be described as injury-depleted – but Alice Kinsella insists they are in rude health after claiming team silver on Friday night.
Kinsella, from Walsall and Park Wrekin Gymnastics Club member – a relative veteran at 17 compared to late call-up Taeja James,15, and Lucy Stanhope, 16, led by example with an impressive all-around showing that left her third overall and a great medal shout in Saturday’s individual final.
Her teammates – not least James who up until two weeks ago was not going to be in Australia before Amy Tinkler’s ankle injury – also brought their best on the night as they aimed to defend the gold won at Glasgow 2014.
But without Claudia Fragapane – also injured – that was always going to be a tough ask against a Canadian team led by the impressive Elsabeth Black.
If not for a poor team run on the beam though, it could even have been gold for England as James produced a stunning final floor routine to guarantee them a silver.
“Getting this medal means everything to me, the girls have worked so hard, so hard in training and so well as a team together so getting this medal makes me feel so proud,” said Kinsella.
“We lost two of our strongest girls but the other two that came in, they are just as strong so we fought hard and got the result anyway.
“That shows a lot about the English strength in gymnastics, Amy pulling out last minute like that meant Taeja had to come in last minute and she was great and really pulled it off.
“I am very pleased with how it went from a personal perspective as well, I can’t wait for my finals but especially the all-around tomorrow."
Meanwhile over at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre, David Goodfield loved every minute of his Commonwealth debut for England, scoring a goal in their 7-0 romp past Malaysia to kick off their Pool B campaign.
Sam Ward and Mark Gleghorne both bagged doubles for England’s men – who have never before made the Commonwealth Games final since hockey joined the tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
But they did claim a bronze medal in Glasgow four years ago, before Goodfield had made the breakthrough into the senior set-up.
Indeed half of Bobby Crutchley’s 18-man squad out in Australia are playing in their first Commonwealths – and Goodfield insists that is a good thing.
“There were quite a few of us playing at our first Commonwealths – including myself – so it’s great to get that first win and get rolling," said the 25-year-old.
“I have tried to embrace this whole experience, it’s a tiny bit surreal but you want to be at these events – this is what I have been dreaming of playing in.
“It is amazing to be in this multi-sport games and you just have to try and use that energy and excitement.”
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