A FIVE-YEAR-OLD is celebrating a stunning start to her gymnastics career after picking up no fewer than three medals at a big regional competition.
Jacinta Brackley, from Hoole, claimed second in both the vault and floor exercises on her way to an overall second-placed finish at the City of Preston Gymnastics Club Two Piece Championships.
Hoole Primary School pupil Jacinta, who represents Focus Institute of Gymnastics, was competing in her first ever event and against children a year older than her, having only been a member of the Widnes club since July.
Jacinta’s mother Anita said: “She has a real desire to pursue her gymnastics and wants to enter more competitions in the future. Since she joined the club, she seems to spend half of her life upside down.”
Focus Institute of Gymnastics coach Mike Lockett said: “Jacinta has only been with us for 12 weeks but has shown lots of potential and we have really high hopes for her.
“She recently increased her hours of weekly training from two to six and is progressing extremely quickly.
“As she is only five, we can’t enter her into the next level of competition for two years, which is a shame as she is already capable of performing to that standard.”
