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South Tyneside Gymnastics Club has been sharing their motivational training videos on Facebook to keep each other moving while they self-isolate.

The videos are a combination of those recorded at the club - before it closed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 - and the gymnasts’ own home workouts.

Classes were suspended until further notice on Friday, March 20 when the government ordered all bars, restaurants and gyms to close in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

Chloe Heley, Ruby Oliver and Megan Neal won gold for Great Britain in Mexico in 2019.

It came just weeks after eight gymnasts from the club were selected to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in Geneva in May.

Trio Chloe Healey, 15, Megan Neal, 14, Ruby Oliver, 12, were selected for Team GB in the women’s aged 12-18 group.

Lauren Conlin, 18, Olivia Parker, 15, Hannah Smith, 13 were also due to compete as a partnership in the women’s aged 13-19 group.

Meanwhile gymnasts Oliver Mattinson, 26 and Ellen Proud, 14, were called up for the mixed seniors.

Olivia Parker, Lauren Conlin and Hannah Smith

Although the competition has been postponed the athletes are sticking to their intensive training programmes as much as they can from home, says coach Ian Said.

“The closure will have a huge impact on their training,” he said.

“Not being able to use the gym they can’t stick to their full training but they are staying fit by working on their programmes from home.

“It’s to try and maintain some mobility and strength, so when we get back we can hit the ground running.

He added: “They have responded fantastically, some of them have even been getting their parents involved and have recorded them having a go at some of the exercises.

Every other day the club is also sharing inspiration for those who are now unable to attend classes.

“The videos are aimed at those gymnasts who can’t attend at the moment, to give them some ideas of how they can maintain their levels of fitness,” Ian added.

“It’s just to keep up that motivation.”

Visit South Tyneside Gymnastics and Wellbeing Centre on Facebook.

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