This year, Becky Downie MBE will have been an artistic gymnast for the Great Britain squad for 25 consecutive years, with her most recent competition seeing her be part of the GB team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games alongside Ruby Evans, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Alice Kinsella and Abigail Martin, where she qualified for the Uneven Bars final, having previously competed at the Beijing 2018 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Becky has had success over the years at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships, most recently winning Silver in the Team event in 2024 and qualifying for the Uneven Bars final. At the 2023 European Championships, Becky helped the British team become champions for the first time in the European women’s Team event, also winning an individual Silver medal on Uneven Bars, and she was previously the European champion on the same apparatus in 2014 and 2016. For Team England, Becky became the Commonwealth champion on Uneven Bars in 2014 in Glasgow, where the team also became champions in the Team event, and she made her Commonwealth Games debut in Melbourne in 2006, winning Bronze on Balance Beam, with the Team winning Silver. Over the years as an artistic gymnast, Becky has become the British champion numerous times, and in 2024, she was awarded the MBE alongside her sister Ellie for services to gymnasts and the sport of gymnastics, and having competed at 10 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, one of Becky’s proudest moments was winning Silver on Uneven Bars in 2019 where Ellie became the first British World Vault medallist. Recently, we found out from Becky about competing at three Olympic Games for Team GB, becoming European champion in 2014 and 2016 on Uneven Bars and her further success as an artistic gymnast over the years so far for Team GB and Team England.
How did you find the experience competing at your third Olympics in 2024, when you represented Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and what was it like being part of the team alongside Ruby Evans, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Alice Kinsella and Abigail Martin?
I absolutely loved my time in Paris with the team. Due to our GB squad being hit hard with injury the year leading into Paris, for the first time ever in my career, the team was pretty set and it gave us a really unique opportunity to bond early as a team.
It was a real mix of age and experience, but we genuinely all got along so well. I had the best time with the girls.
How did you feel qualifying for the Uneven Bars final in Paris and how do you stay focused during major international finals?
The whole competition was quite emotional for me in Paris because of what surrounded my comeback from the Tokyo cycle. To just be there really felt like a miracle, and only a small handful of people truly understand what it took for me to be there. One thing that helps me stay calm is always music and being well prepared in the gym.
What are some of your favourite memories from competing at the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, and what is it like staying in the Olympic villages?
Beijing I wish a was a little older to take in the whole experience more. I can remember being in awe of the size of the Olympic village and I took it all in my stride because I didn’t really understand quite how big the Olympics were.
Rio was such a beautiful place to host an Olympics, and our team dynamic was brilliant. It’s incredibly special to say I made an Olympic team alongside my sister.
The Olympic village experience is an experience like no other. Each one has its own special perks, and it’s all the details that make an Olympic experience so special.
How was it returning to major competitions at the 2023 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships and winning Great Britain’s first title in the women’s Team event and an individual Silver medal on the Uneven Bars?
I have come back from injury many times before in my career, but everything that surrounded my comeback from that Tokyo year felt much bigger to overcome. Winning the first-ever Team Gold was so special because I was part of the team back in 2010 that won the first Team Silver, and we had been fighting for the Team title for many years.
Getting a Silver on Bars was a bonus, but it also gave me a lot of confidence back because I’d lost a lot of belief in myself over those years.
You previously became European champion in 2014 and 2016, winning Gold on the Uneven Bars, and most recently competed at the 2024 Championships, winning Silver with the Team and qualifying for the Uneven Bars final; can you say about some of your stand-out highlights from the European Championships over the years?
2014 was one of my favourite European Championships ever. The team was such a fun squad and we all got along so well with the juniors.
2014 and 2016 winning European titles was extremely special. To forever be a European champion is something I’ll cherish forever.
Having been on the British team for 10 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, what are these Championships like to compete at and what was it like being on the podium in 2019 after winning Silver in the Uneven Bars final?
It’s always an honour to represent Great Britain, and now it’s become much more exciting as we’ve got stronger as a gymnastics nation. My first Worlds in 2007 will always be one of my favourites – making our first-ever Team final and qualifying a full team to Beijing.
My 2019 medal cemented years of hard work, and to be back in Stuttgart, where my Worlds journey started meant everything. Having Ellie right by my side becoming the first British World Vault medallist on the same day is still so unbelievable. It was a historic day that I don’t think will ever be topped in my career.
In 2006 and 2014, you represented Team England at the Commonwealth Games, where you won Silver with the Team and Bronze on Balance Beam at the age of 14 at your Commonwealth Games debut in Melbourne, and became Commonwealth champion in Glasgow in the Team event and on Uneven Bars; what do you remember most from both competitions?
I was super young, only 14, at my first Commonwealth Games and I loved the whole experience. By 2014, I was much more experienced, but equally loved it just as much. It’s such a fun competition to compete at and, I’d say, one of the most fun international events we have.
As a multiple British champion, what do you enjoy most about being on the Great Britain senior squad and being involved with the sport?
I love that the sport constantly challenges you, and nothing will ever compare to that feeling of competing with your team on the world’s biggest stages. It’s a true honour to have been a part of the GB squad for so long. I’m coming up to 25 consecutive years on the GB squad this year, and that is such an unbelievable milestone to accomplish, especially with the history of the women’s artistic programme.
What are some of your further favourite competitions from your artistic gymnastics career so far, and are there any you have found particularly challenging?
It’s so hard to choose my top because there have been so many amazing moments, but the biggest are probably some of the firsts. 2015 Worlds was so special, winning our first Team medal at home. 2010 Europeans winning the first Team silver.
2017 was a challenging Euros because I got injured, but also, it was so, so amazing watching Ellie dominate and become our first AA European champion.
How did you get into artistic gymnastics and did you always know you wanted to compete at elite level?
I got into gymnastics through a friend at school and it was just for fun. My family had no idea what it was going to involve being an elite gymnast.
How has your training changed over the years and what is it like now training on all four apparatus?
Gosh, the sport is just totally different now. The new generation will never be able to understand what gymnastics previously was like to train elite. I’d say being a voice of change has to be my biggest accomplishment in this sport.
Now, I plan and programme everything myself, which would never have been accepted in gymnastics before. I just have to be careful and listen to my body.
You were awarded an MBE for services to gymnasts and the sport of gymnastics in 2024 alongside your sister Ellie; how did you feel receiving the MBE from Princess Anne together at Windsor Castle?
Our MBE day was just magical, and it still is quite surreal that we both got them together. It will forever be my greatest achievement in this sport, because what we both fought for was bigger than any medal could ever be. It really is a true honour.
Can you tell us about Chasing Excellence and how did it come about?
Chasing Excellence is something I’m so passionate about. When I retire, I can’t wait to be a high-performance coach, and there is a lot I still want to do differently.
I have coached myself for the past decade and, alongside that, have coached Ellie at points/planned for her. I’ve just learnt so much that I can’t wait to teach. I’ve had to handle so much in my career, far beyond the training that I shouldn’t ever have had to as the athlete, but it’s given me invaluable experience for my future.
I’ve also had the privilege to learn from some of the world’s best coaches and practitioners. I’ve made a lot of mistakes myself and have seen so many mistakes repetitively be made across the women’s artistic programme over 20+ years. I’m so excited to see what I can do as I continue to learn, grow and evolve as a coach.
Do you have any favourite gymnasts (either current or retired) to watch compete, and are there there any other sports you enjoy watching?
My favourite gymnast is Aliya Mustafina, but there are so many greats that I’ve looked up to. Aly Raisman / Simone Biles / Viktoria Komova / Nastia Liukin / Shawn Johnson to name a few favourites.
I also like to watch diving, athletics and our England Lionesses.
Have you received any advice over your time as an artistic gymnast so far that has stuck with you, and what advice would you give someone starting out?
A key phrase I held on to growing up was, “It’s better to be told off than to be injured”. Now that’s something that shouldn’t even be a debate in gymnastics.
The advice I’d give to someone starting out is cherish every moment. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t an extremely hard sport, but I also think it’s one of the most beautiful sports in the world. The highs and lows are all part of the journey, and everyone’s journey is different.
I wouldn’t change anything about my career. I’ve learnt more than I ever dreamed possible, and I’ve learnt the most from the hardest times.
How do you like to spend your free time?
With my friends/family, or doing things I love like decorating my house, scrolling fashion, watching TV, and listening to my favourite music or podcasts.
Do you have any plans over the next year that you can tell us about?
I’m currently working back to international competition. I also want to continue to progress my coaching qualifications. I absolutely know coaching is where my heart is at after my competitive career.
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