Hannah Whelan

Hannah Whelan
— Gymnast —
Hannah Whelan in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Hannah Kate Whelan
Country represented	Great Britain  England
Born	(1992-07-01) 1 July 1992 Singapore
Hometown	Stockport, United Kingdom
Height	160 cm (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight	53 kg (117 lb)[1]
Discipline	Women's artistic gymnastics
Level	Senior International Elite
Years on national team	2008-2015
Club	City of Liverpool
Head coach(es)	Claire Duffy
Assistant coach(es)	Sophie Whelan
Former coach(es)	Amanda Reddin, Sarah Attwell, Helen Hall
Choreographer	Adriana Pop
Music	Bandoneon Acorazado by Tango Fusion Club (2011-2012)
Retired	2015
Medal record Competitor for  Great Britain European Championships 2014 Sofia Team 2012 Brussels Balance Beam 2012 Brussels Floor Exercise Competitor for  England Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow Team 2014 Glasgow All-Around

Hannah Kate Whelan (born 1 July 1992) is a retired British artistic gymnast. She competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. Whelan has won three European medals, and in 2014 was the bronze medallist in the all-around at the Commonwealth Games. She is a four time British senior Champion. Whelan specialised on the balance beam and floor exercise, although competing all-around as well.

Personal information

Hannah Whelan was born on 1 July 1992 in Singapore to Mike and Karen Whelan where she lived until she was two years old. Her family then moved to Stockport, United Kingdom. It was here that Whelan began gymnastics. She said, "At the age of six, after constantly cartwheeling around the house and Tesco I persuaded my Mum to take me to a gymnastic class. There I was immediately spotted as a talent and began training at South Manchester Gymnastics Club with coach Helen Hall."^[2] A year later, at the age of seven, Whelan's family moved to Texas, United States where she trained at Flips Gymnastics Academy. In 2001, at the age of nine, her family moved back to Stockport and Whelan resumed training with Helen Hall this time at Vernon Park Gymnastics Club.

In 2005, Whelan switched gyms to City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club with coach Sarah Attwell^[3] and alongside Beth Tweddle. Whelan said, "Beth always helped me in the gym. Just the little comments help to pick you up if things are going wrong. She has the experience and she has had bad days in the gym, but it's good to know that she's gotten where she has by living through the same things that you are."^[4] After 2008, Whelan began training under coach, Amanda Reddin. She said, "I totally trust Amanda. She knows exactly what she wants me to do and what needs to be in my training program in order for me to have a successful year."^[5]

Whelan attended Bramhall High School but missed much of her final year due to training. Despite this, she passed eight GCSE exams including seven B's and one C.^[6] She is currently studying Sports Development at John Moores University in Liverpool.^[7]

Senior career

2008

In March, Whelan competed at the World Cup event in Doha, Qatar. She placed eighth on balance beam scoring 13.000 and eighth on floor scoring 13.050.^[8]

In June, Whelan competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom. She placed third in the all around competition with a score of 56.100.^[9]

Beijing Olympics

In August, Whelan competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. She contributed scores of 14.325 on balance beam and 14.125 on floor toward the British team's ninth-place finish.^[10]

2009

In March, Whelan competed at the European Championships in Milan, Italy. She placed seventeenth in the all around final with a score of 54.325.^[11]

In May, Whelan participated at the British Teams competition in Guildford, United Kingdom. She helped her club, City of Liverpool, win first place with an all around score of 56.400.^[12]

In July, Whelan competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom. She placed fifth in the all around competition with a score of 52.150. In event finals, she placed second on balance beam scoring 14.300 and fourth on floor scoring 13.350.^[13]

In September, Whelan had surgery on her wrist.^[14]

2010

In June, Whelan competed at the World Cup event in Porto, Portugal. She placed third on floor with a score of 13.400.^[15]

In July, Whelan competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom. She won the all around competition with a score of 57.800. Whelan said, "I'm really, really happy! I didn't have any aims or expectations coming into the competition, so to then go out and win is just incredible. I've had injury problems so to then return and become British champion is fantastic."^[14] In event finals, she placed third on uneven bars scoring 13.800, second on balance beam scoring 14.100 and third on floor scoring 13.750.^[16]

World Championships 2010

In October, Whelan competed at the World Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She contributed scores of 13.900 on uneven bars, 14.133 on balance beam, and 14.066 on floor toward the British team's seventh-place finish. She placed sixteenth in the all around final with a score of 55.499.^[17] Whelan said, "It was good final and importantly I went clean on all pieces. I think I started to tire a bit towards the end of the competition having already competed in qualifications and the team final and it caught up with me at the end. Overall it’s been a great week; it’s been hard work, a good laugh and an exciting experience to be part of."^[18]

2011

In March, Whelan placed eighth in the all around competition at the American Cup in Jacksonville, United States with a score of 52.532.^[19]

European Championships

In April, Whelan competed at the European Championships in Berlin, Germany. She placed thirteenth in the all around final with a score of 54.175 and eighth in the balance beam final scoring of 11.950 after falling twice.^[20] Whelan said, "I started great, having thought I may be pretty shaky, but it was all going really well and then I don’t know what happened. I can’t blame nerves, as I actually felt pretty good so I don’t know what happened. Its brilliant that I made the final in the first place, with British gymnasts not usually excelling at beam, but still my week hasn’t been as good as I hoped so plenty more work to do!"^[21]

Later in April, Whelan placed fifth in the all around competition at the World Cup event in Glasgow, United Kingdom with a score of 52.132.^[22]

In May, Whelan participated at the British Teams competition in Guildford, United Kingdom. She helped her club, City of Liverpool, win first place with an all around score of 56.850.^[23]

In July, Whelan competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom. She won the all around competition with a score of 56.350.^[24] Whelan said, "I’m really pleased with today’s performance, there is still a few harder skills I'm working on but they weren’t quite ready for today’s competition. The atmosphere was really great in the arena and everybody was cheering each other on. To be crowned British Champion again is a huge honor for me - especially in Liverpool with such great support."^[25] In event finals, she placed second on uneven bars scoring 13.900,^[26] second on balance beam scoring 14.500,^[27] and fourth on floor scoring 14.150.^[28]

World Championships

In October, Whelan competed at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. She contributed an all around score of 55.665 toward the British team's fifth-place finish meaning that the United Kingdom qualified a full team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Whelan placed ninth in the all around final with a score of 56.124.^[29] She said, "I feel amazing, I’m really, really happy. I wasn't expecting that as I came in sixteenth last year and was just looking to improve on that. I really enjoyed the competition, didn’t feel the pressure and although it is strange not having all my teammates around me out there I could still hear them in the stands which helps a lot. I went clean on all my routines so am very proud. The consistency has been there all week which is a good sign going into next year, having spent a long time working hard in the gym it’s always good to see that pay off in competition. The week as a whole has been amazing, huge highs in getting to the Olympics and placing fifth in the team and now this, all the team have bonded so it’s looking really positive going into 2012."^[30]

2012

In March, Whelan competed at the World Cup event in Doha, Qatar. She placed sixth on balance beam with a score of 13.425.^[31]

European Championships

In May, Whelan competed at the European Championships in Brussels, Belgium. She contributed an all around score of 55.498 toward the British team's fourth-place finish. In event finals, she placed third on balance beam scoring 14.333 and third on floor scoring 14.533.^[32] Whelan said, "It feels amazing I’m over the moon, it’s really unexpected. I wanted to come out and enjoy the competition and I definitely did. I enjoy training beam and feel naturally comfortable on it and to get our first ever medal on that piece is very special. I've always dreamed of getting major medals and to come away with two is unbelievable. It gives me a lot of confidence going into the rest of the year."^[33]

In June, Whelan competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom. She placed third in the all around competition with a score of 55.800.^[34] Whelan said, "It wasn’t a perfect competition today but I still took the bronze medal so I can’t be too disappointed and I know that finishing near the top has got to help my chances of making the Olympic team which is the most important thing. This year I think I’ve improved a lot, winning two medals at the Europeans was a big boost and proves that on my day I can produce."^[35] In event finals, she placed fourth on uneven bars scoring 14.250,^[36] second on balance beam scoring 13.850,^[37] and third on floor scoring 13.900.^[38]

At the beginning of July, Whelan was selected to competed for the United Kingdom at the 2012 Summer Olympics alongside Imogen Cairns, Jennifer Pinches, Rebecca Tunney and Beth Tweddle.^[39]

London Olympics

At the end of July, Whelan competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. She qualified to the all around final in seventeenth place with a score of 55.699. In the team final, she contributed scores of 14.000 on uneven bars, 13.866 on balance beam, and 14.200 on floor toward the British team's sixth-place finish. In the all around final, Whelan landed her vault on her knees meaning she received a score of zero and finished in last place.^[40] She said, "I'm devastated, I don't know what happened on vault, I think I had too much adrenaline going into it. I'm so proud of Rebecca though, the whole team have done so well here and we are all looking forward to supporting Beth in bars final on Monday."^[41]

2014

Commonwealth Games

In July, Whelan competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Whelan contributed a score of 53.366 towards England's Team gold, and qualified fifth into the all around final. She won bronze- scoring 54.699. Whelan's two teammates Claudia Fragapane and Ruby Harrold also won gold and silver respectively for an all English podium.

References

External links

• Hannah Whelan on Twitter
• Hannah Whelan at Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique
• Official website
• Hannah Whelan at British Gymnastics