Rebecca "Becky" Owen (born 16 August 1986) is a retired British artistic gymnast. She represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games where she won a silver medal in the team event and on the floor exercise.

Becky Owen
Full nameRebecca Owen
Country represented United Kingdom
Regions represented England
Born (1986-08-16) 16 August 1986 (age 37)
Bridlington, England, United Kingdom
DisciplineWomen's artistic gymnastics
Head coach(es)Christine Still, Colin Still
Retired2003
Medal record
Representing  England
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Manchester Team
Silver medal – second place 2002 Manchester Floor exercise

Career edit

She competed at the 2002 European Championships alongside Beth Tweddle and Katy Lennon, and they finished sixth in the team competition. Individually, Owen finished tenth in the all-around final with a total score of 35.198.[1] At that time, this tenth-place finish tied her for the best finish in a European all-around final.[2]

Owen competed at the 2002 Commonwealth Games with Beth Tweddle, Katy Lennon, Lizzy Line, and Nicola Willis. She was the youngest member of the team.[2] The English team won the silver medal behind Australia.[3] Individually, Owen finished seventh in the all-around final with a total score of 34.900.[4] She finished sixth in both the uneven bars final and the balance beam final.[5] In the floor exercise final, Owen scored a 9.237 and won the silver medal beind Sarah Lauren from Australia.[6]

In 2003, Owen pulled out of the qualifying competitions leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games due to injuries, and she then retired from gymnastics.[7]

Injuries and lawsuit edit

Owen suffered from her first back fracture when she was eleven years old while performing a whip salto.[7] Owen sued her coaches, Christine and Colin Still, in 2010, claiming that she was forced to continue training through her various back injuries, and that these injuries have left her unable to sit or stand for more than a few minutes, and she is unable to carry a baby.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Official Results" (PDF). UEG.org. European Union of Gymnastics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Owen & Rooney". BBC Sport Academy. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Gymnastics Artistic Team Competition - Women Manchester 2002". Commonwealth Sport. Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Gymnastics Artistic Individual All-Around - Women Manchester 2002". Commonwealth Sport. Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Becky Owen". Commonwealth Sport. Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Gymnastics Artistic Floor - Women Manchester 2002". Commonwealth Sport. Commonwealth Games Federation. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Gymnast Sues Coaches". EUROSPORT. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2021.