Angel Delight
It’s been a heavenly year for cherubic Welsh gymnast Angel Romaeo, who is still on cloud nine after a flying performance launched her to gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man. Simon Grant caught up with the Cardiff teenager, on terra firma, at the Sport Wales National Centre – home of Welsh Gymnastics.
‘And
up...lift those legs!’ Barks the newest addition to Welsh gymnastics’ elite coaching staff, former head coach of the German women’s gymnastics team; Dieter Koch. On cue a diminutive fi gure arches into a poker straight handstand before smoothly lowering tiny legs back onto the Swiss ball cradled at Dieter’s feet.
‘OK, take a break,’ he mutters and with that I’m greeted by the biggest pair of brown eyes and cheeky smile you’ve ever seen. Both of which belong to the newly crowned Commonwealth Youth Games all around
champion...Angel Romaeo.
The 14-year-old Cardiff sensation, who splits her time between rigorous training with the national squad and school studies, went to the Isle of Man brimming with confi dence. Just a week earlier she’d beaten all comers to become
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the Sainsbury’s UK School Games champion in Sheffi eld. Edging out fellow Welsh gymnasts Raer Theaker and Kiera Brennan in the process, Angel won gold in the girls all around and helped Wales to secure top spot in the competition. But it’s that Commonwealth beating gold medal that she credits as her best achievement so far.
“It was just amazing!” she beams. “Winning the Youth Commonwealth is just like one in a lifetime. It felt really good to beat gymnasts from New Zealand and Australia. It feels like I can do anything! Doing the Commonwealths has boosted my confi dence, knowing I can do what I just did and carry on doing it until Rio 2016 when I’ll be at my peak hopefully. It was my best result and the highest score that I’ve ever got.”
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