To mark the occasion, 250,000th member Kizzie Ward was invited as a VIP to the recent British Gymnastics Championship Series, an event that saw more than 1,500 gymnasts from across the country compete in a range of different disciplines at Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Ten-year-old Ward, from Tees Valley Gymnastics Club in Middlesbrough, was presented with a special certificate, and as well as awarding the medals to the top gymnasts she also got the chance to meet Team GB medal-winning acrobatic gymnasts Ryan Bartlett and Hannah Baughn.

It is claimed there are now more people enjoying and delivering gymnastics than ever before in UK. 

"This is a very significant milestone for British Gymnastics and clearly shows the sport is thriving in the UK," said Jane Allen, chief executive of British Gymnastics.

"Our membership base demonstrates that it is not just the youngsters enjoying the sport, adult gymnastics is on the rise too with adults wanting to return to the sport or find a new, exciting way to keep fit and have some fun.

"Since www.discovergymnastics.uk was created, it’s received half-a-million visits from people looking to find their nearest club and explore the gymnastics activities available."

The growth of membership in gymnastics can also be attributed to the plans that British Gymnastics have put in place to ensure that everyone can engage and take part in the sport, supported by Sport England.

Their community clubs are delivering more opportunities to more participants than ever before, it is claimed.

A total of £2 million ($3 million/€2.5 million) has been invested in facility development to increase capacity for more people to enjoy gymnastics and training for 10,000 people to deliver the activities.

In the last four years there have been 160 new dedicated gymnastics facilities created with 120 satellite clubs established in the last two years.

At the elite level, British gymnasts have raised the bar over the last two Olympic cycles and are consistently winning medals at major championships across the world.

Louis Smith won a bronze medal in the men's pommel horse at Beijing 2008, before upgrading to silver at London 2012 in the same event with compatriot Max Whitlock taking bronze.

Smith and Whitlock also formed part of Britain's bronze medal-winning men's artistic gymnastics team, along with Sam Oldham, Daniel Purvis and Kristian Thomas, at London 2012.

Beth Tweddle also won a bronze medal in the women's uneven bars.

Momentum could continue with the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow this October, a qualifier for Rio 2016, followed by the Olympic Games themselves next August.

"Ever since the Beijing Olympic Games the resurgence of gymnastics in this country has been incredible," said three-time Olympic medallist Smith, who described the 250,000 membership growth as a proud moment for the sport.

"Everywhere I go people are talking about how much they have loved watching the British team’s success and often how they have been inspired.

"Gymnastics clubs across the country are full of budding gymnasts wanting to be the next Beth Tweddle or the next Louis Smith and that’s incredible.

"British Gymnastics have created great role models, nurturing club environments that are really welcoming, supported fantastic facilities to help grow the sport and innovative new types of gymnastics so there’s something for everyone these days competitive or not – I’m very proud to be part of it." 

British Gymnastics’ membership base is hugely diverse and testament to the wide range of participation options provided by the organisation, it is claimed.

The largest sector of members are "bronze" members, typically those who are enjoying taking part in gymnastics at least once a week as a recreational activity to keep active, try new things and socialise with friends.

Bronze members range from the ages of two-and-a-half to 85-years-old.


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