Awards just keep on coming for Beth

GYMNASTICS: She may have failed to make the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year but Beth Tweddle’s year to remember has been recognised.

The three-time world champion from Bunbury was one of the big winners at the star-studded 62nd annual British Sports Awards – before picking up another top honour from the British Olympic Association

MBE Tweddle, who claimed her third world crown in October, was given the UK Sport Award for fair play and inspiration at the British Sports Awards.

The 25-year-old also came close to winning the Sportswoman of the Year prize at the London event staged by the Sports Journalists’ Association.

Tweddle finished third behind Winter Olympics skeleton bobsleigh gold medallist Amy Williams and winner for the second year running, World and European heptathlete champion Jessica Ennis.

Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup were named the Team of the Year and jockey Tony McCoy Sportsman of the Year before he went on to land the BBC Sports Personality prize on Sunday.

Having won double European gold earlier in the year, Tweddle’s victory on the uneven bars at this year’s World Championships in Rotterdam capped a memorable 2010 for the former Chester Queen’s School pupil.

Her feats led her to being named as one of the recipients of the British Olympic Association’s Olympic Athlete of the Year awards.

The awards, which were introduced in 2005, are given to the top-performing athlete of the year in each of the 33 summer and winter Olympic sports.

Tweddle said: “I’m really happy to win this award, in what has been a outstanding year for British gymnastics.

“Becoming world champion for the third time in my career in 2010 has given me great confidence towards my aim of reaching the podium at the London 2012 Olympic Games.”

Tweddle is regarded as Britain’s greatest ever gymnast, but a burning desire to win a maiden Olympic medal in 2012 fuels her continued quest for success.

“I’ve always said while I’m still enjoying it and getting results I’ll keep going,” said Tweddle, who was fourth on the uneven bars at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. “That’s still the case and I’ll definitely continue until London 2012 now.”