Former Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle MBE has spoken about her ongoing recovery from a ski accident during training for Channel 4’s The Jump.
The former Queen’s School pupil from Bunbury had to undergo surgery to fuse two fractured vertebrae in her neck after suffering a serious fall during training for the winter sports reality show.
Celebrities who record the slowest time or speed in each event face a live ski jump to keep their place in the competition.
Related story: Beth Tweddle starts rehab after fracturing neck on The Jump
Beth, 31, who is three times World Champion, six times European Champion and won bronze at London 2012, told the BBC: “I’m getting there. Obviously it’s been a slow process and I’m working with the doctors and physios. They’re building me a rehab programme to get me back to full fitness.
“One good thing now is that when I’m in a safe and controlled environment I can take my collar off. When I’m out and about around people and in the car, I still have to keep it on.”
And Beth made a special appearance at the 2016 British Gymnastics Championships at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Saturday (April 9) in front of a 6,000 capacity crowd.
Speaking to the British Gymnastics website, she commented: “The support from the gymnastics community has been unbelievable. The cards and best wishes I have received have been amazing.
“Even when I was in the hospital my parents and management were reading them out to me. The support over the last few months has been overwhelming. The gymnastics community has supported me since I was very young and the support continues and I am so grateful.”
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Beth said she was proud to be supporting gymnasts at the event in Liverpool where she graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a degree in Sports Science in 2007.
“It’s such an important competition for every single gymnast competing, especially those trying to get to the Olympic Games,” she said. “Being an Olympic year, it obviously very special and I can understand what they are all going through because four years ago I was in the exact position, in my quest to get to the London games.”
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Born on April 1, 1985 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Beth grew up in the Cheshire village of Bunbury. Since retiring from gymnastics Beth has been running Total Gymnastics Academies in schools and has become a regular on TV. The highlight was when she was crowned Dancing on Ice winner 2013 along with partner Daniel Whiston.
