AN Andover gymnastics star has been shortlisted for national recognition after grabbing a brilliant World Championship gold medal.

Eighteen-year-old Comfort Yeates, who trains at the town’s Salto Centre, claimed glory at the Trampoline, Tumbling and DMT World Championships and has now been shortlisted for the Elite Athlete of the Year prize at the British Gymnastics Awards.

Yeates was reserved for the senior World Championships, but following an injury to one of her teammates was called on to step up.

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The youngster went one step further, putting in a dominant performance to take the gold medal on her global debut.

Despite the stunning triumph, Yeates admits she never thought she would ever get to experience a senior World Championships.

She said: "The experience was amazing, particularly because I just never thought I would get to experience a senior World Championships.

"Being called up was just the best experience ever, and I am so grateful for that to have happened.

"Everyone dreams of being a world champion, but you never really think it is going to come true. Just to go to a senior World Championship, that was my dream and I was so happy just to be going.

"It is more than I could ever have imagined. It was very stressful because I was prepared to compete a week later and I had not spent a lot of time with the people in the senior squad, so I was extremely excited but there was no reason to be nervous."

The British Gymnastics Awards are community-led and about championing those who make the sport an uplifting experience for all, with more nominations than ever before coming in this year.

The nominations have been judged by panels made up of British Gymnastics committee members and external panellists from across UK Sport, Gymnova, Milano, Gymaid, Youth Sport Trust, Sport England, Women in Sport, The Include Summit, Sport and Recreation Alliance, The Sport for Development Coalition and GB gymnasts.

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The British Gymnastics Awards celebrate those at the heart of gymnastics who create an uplifting experience for all. British Gymnastics has launched a new vision for a new era of gymnastics, learn more about Leap Without Limits at british-gymnastics.org/vision.