Beth Tweddle

At 39 years old, Beth Tweddle has this physical status:

Elizabeth Kimberly Tweddle (born 1 April 1985) is a retired British artistic gymnast.

She was the first female gymnast from the United Kingdom to win a medal at the European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games. At three Olympic Games, Tweddle represented Great Britain.

She is the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist on uneven bars, the 2006 and 2010 World Champion on the uneven bars, and the 2009 World Champion on floor exercise. In August 2013, Tweddle was resigned.

Tweddle's celebrity after her departure encouraged her to pursue a variety of media and sport roles.

Tweddle and partner Daniel Whiston, who won the competition for the third time on March 10, 2013 were crowned eighth series of Dancing on Ice on Ice.

She appeared in the ninth and final series of Dancing on Ice, the "All-Stars" series, with new skating partner Lukasz Rózycki, making the final and placing third. Tweddle appeared in the third series of Channel 4 reality contest show The Jump in 2016.

However, Tweddle sustained a back injury on February 7, two weeks into the show, and was forced to withdraw from the competition.

On February 8, 2016, it was revealed that she had successfully undergone neck surgery to fuse two vertebrae together with a piece of her hip bone.

Early life and education

Tweddle was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and when she was 18 months old, she and her family migrated to Bunbury, Cheshire, England. Tweddle began competing in gymnastics at the age of seven at Crewe and Nantwich Gymnastics Club, after trying several sports. In 1997, she joined the City of Liverpool Gymnastics Club to work with coach Amanda Reddin.

Tweddle completed a foundation degree at the University of Liverpool at The Queen's School in Chester. She earned a degree in sports science from Liverpool John Moores University in 2007. She was accepted into the University of Liverpool's physiotherapy program and began attending after the 2012 Summer Olympics. Tweddle is also a member of Total Gymnastics. "I have a sports science degree and I'll be continuing my studies in the future," she said – I have a place at University of Liverpool to study Physiotherapy. I've also started Total Gymnastics with former Olympic swimmer Steve Parry. To help children try gymnastics, we're going to schools and recreation centers, which I'm enjoying because so many gymnastics clubs are overbooked." Tweddle is an avid football fan and is a fan of Chester F.C. She is also a supporter of the Alder Hey Children's Hospital charity.

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Senior career

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Ghent, Belgium, at the end of October. She assisted the British team in placing ninth in the all around final, while individually placing twenty-fourth.

In April, Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Patras, Greece. She aided the British team place sixth in the all-around final, winning a score of 34.242. She came in third on uneven bars in the event finals, earning a score of 9.287. This was the first medal ever won by a female British gymnast at the European Championships. "I saw my name on the scoreboard in third place and couldn't stop crying." I'm just so happy."

At the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, United Kingdom, Tweddle competed for England. With a score of 36.387, she came in second in the all-around final. She finished seventh on vault scoring 8.887 and first on uneven bars scoring 9.550.

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, in November. She came in fourth on an uneven bars with a score of 9.312.

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Anaheim, United States, in August. With a rating of 9.512, she came in third in the uneven bars final.

Tweddle took part in the World Cup in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in October. She came in first on uneven bars scoring 9.450 and third on balance beam scoring 8.800.

Tweddle took part in a World Cup event in Stuttgart, Germany, in November. With a score of 9.475, she came in second on uneven bars.

Tweddle took home the World Cup in Cottbus, Germany, in March. She came in first on uneven bars, scoring 9.587.

Tweddle appeared at the World Cup event in Lyon, France, later in March. With a score of 9.500, she came first on uneven bars.

Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in April. With a score of 35.124 and second in the uneven bars final, she finished eleventh in the all around final with a score of 9.587.

Tweddle competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, in August. She scored a total of 36.912 against the British team's 11th-place finish, despite a narrower finish. Tweddle came in nineteenth place in the all-around final with a score of 35.761.

Tweddle competed at the World Cup in New York City, United States, in February. She ranked fourth on uneven bars, scoring 9.487 and third on floor scoring 9.412.

In May, Tweddle competed at the World Cup in Paris, France. She came in second on uneven bars scoring 9.450 and seventh on floor scoring 8.225, and seventh on floor scoring 8.225.

Tweddle competed at the World Cup event in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in October. She came first on uneven bars scoring 9.687, third on balance beam scoring 9.012, and first on floor scoring 9.475.

In November, Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. She came in fourth in the all-around final with a score of 36.936 and third in the uneven bars final with a score of 9.575.

Tweddle suffered her right ankle in March and was unable to participate in the 2006 Commonwealth Games. "I'm looking forward to the Games, but as team captain, I'll stay in Melbourne and cheer the team on." It will be difficult to watch, but I'll have to put the injury behind me now. We were doing podium preparations when I landed badly after a vault. I knew right away that something was wrong. The injury is not serious, it's a bruised bone, and the doctors have said I will be back in time for the Europeans in April. I was still wanting to do bars, but the doctors advised me not to do so if I wanted to be fit for the Europeans. The Beijing Olympics are still on my mind, but I haven't decided if I'll go further."

Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Volos, Greece, in April. She earned the uneven bars final with a score of 16.050. Her triumph was the first at a European Championships for a British gymnast.

Tweddle competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom, in July. She took the all-around title with a score of 60.750. She placed first on uneven bars scoring 15.850, first on balance beam scoring 14.850, and first on floor scoring 15.350.

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, in October. With a score of 59.450, she came eighth in the all-around final. She finished first on uneven bars scoring 16.200 and fourth on floor scoring 15.425. Her gold medal was the first British nation to win at a World Championships. "I knew that I could do the routine, but it was only if I could get it out for the time being," Tweddle said. On Friday morning, I went into the gym and followed exactly the same routine as I would do every night. My confidence went back to normal after this first go around, and my coach knew that from now on she would only have to keep me calm and let me get to it. All my hard work has finally paid off, and I'm totally ecstatic. A lot of people told me that it would be coming, but I didn't think it would ever be true. It hasn't sink in yet. I've earned the bronze medal at the last two world championships, and to come out today after the fall yesterday and get through it is an achievement. I didn't know if I'd win because I hadn't seen Liukin's routine, but I've seen her in training and she was pretty impressive."

Tweddle competed at the World Cup event in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in November. She came in first on uneven bars, scoring 16.025 and seventh on floor scoring 14.550.

Tweddle appeared in the World Cup final in So Paulo, Brazil, in December. She came in first on uneven bars scoring 16.300 and second on floor scoring 15.200.

Tweddle was nominated for and placed third in third place for the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, the only British gymnast to make the short list.

Tweddle had shoulder surgery in January.

She represented at the European Championships in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in April. She came in second place in the floor final with a score of 15.250. "It was really difficult, but it was not really difficult," Tweddle said, "It was not competing at Europeans, but it was a case of not competing at Europeans, rather than staging a few exhibitions and returning to the international stage for the first time." Obviously, later in the year is more important than this. The injury wasn't worth fighting, but it might make it worse for later this year."

Tweddle competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom, in July. She won the all-around competition for the seventh straight time in a row. She came first in the event finals, earning 16.350 points out of uneven bars. "It's a bit scary to win my seventh title on the seventh of the seventh seventh of 2007." I was so happy with how things were going today. I made the decision to change my second floor collapse in order to protect my foot and make sure I didn't hurt it before the Worlds, but everything else was fine.

Tweddle competed in the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, in September. She scored 14.175 on the British team's seventh-place finish, implying that they qualified a whole squad to the Olympics. She came in fourth on uneven bars scoring 16.125 and seventh on floor scoring 14.900, placing fourth in event finals.

Tweddle debuted in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in November. She placed seventh on uneven bars scoring 14.025 and first on floor scoring 14.550. "I went for broke with my bars routine because I wasn't happy with my qualifying routine," Tweddle explained. I know that if I want to win gold at the Olympics next year, I would have to be flawless."

Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Clermont-Ferrand, France, in April 2008. Towards the British team's sixth-place finish, she earned a score of 16.075 on uneven bars. She placed fourth on uneven bars scoring 15.475 and second on floor scoring 15.525 in the event finals.

Tweddle represented in the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom, in June. With a score of 14.550, she came second on uneven bars and was unable to participate in any other apparatus due to an ankle injury. "I've only been able to train on the bars for the past two weeks," she said, so I've had to do a lot of visualisation with the other equipment." However, I hope to train on the floor, beam, and vault this week. I've had a few ankle injuries before, so it's just a matter of getting physio, doing a lot of exercises, and just staying on top of it. It's just a case of being involved with it and looking after it." Tweddle was then selected to represent the United Kingdom in the 2008 Summer Olympics. "I'm really excited and just looking forward to getting to where and doing the best job I can," she said.

Tweddle competed in Beijing, China, in August, 2008. Towards the British team's ninth-place finish, she earned 15.650 on uneven bars and 14.950 on the floor. She came in fourth place in the uneven bars final with a score of 16.625. "I'm going to continue, but I don't see myself quitting now," Tweddle said, though I will have some time off. I was ecstatic just to be in the final. My dismount is normally not a problem, but I didn't have enough height and, to be honest, I was going to die on my face. My goal has been to be in the final. Now I'll have to leave it to London in 2012 to receive a medal. I was in last place in the final, so I just had to go out and do it, and I'm pleased with my result. It was a good show, but I am not dissatisfied with fourth."

Tweddle decides to focus her training on uneven bars and the floor following the Beijing Olympics. "I thought I would retire this year," she said, "but then I was so close in Beijing that there are already some unfinished projects." Now, I don't know when I'll stop. To be honest, 2012 is in my sights right now, although it wasn't this time last year. We'll only have to see how my body holds up, but that's the aim. As long as I'm enjoying it and also up there facing challenges, I'll keep going. I want to prove everybody wrong and win the Olympic medal. To keep my body healthy, I've been working closely with my instructor and my physiotherapist. My diet has changed a lot, and now only do bars and floors properly. My feet hurt my feet, and I can't really fit to be up there to fight for the all round anymore. I've also changed my training partner, and now I train with Hannah Whelan. The variety has brought me a new lease on life."

Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Milan, Italy, in April. She placed first on uneven bars scoring 15.575 and first on floor scoring 15.150 in the event finals. "It's nice to be back," Tweddle said. Since 2006, I have had my fair share of fourth positions, but this week has been all concentrated on getting it right. I was a touch short of the Tkatchev-half on the Tkatchev-half, but I think it was pure determination that got me through."

In May, Tweddle competed in the World Cup event in Glasgow, United Kingdom. She came in first on uneven bars scoring 15.275 and first on floor scoring 14.900.

Tweddle appeared in the British Teams competition in Guildford, United Kingdom, later in May. She earned a first-place finish on uneven bars and 15.450 on the ground for her club, City of Liverpool.

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in London, United Kingdom, in October. She defeated the floor final with a score of 14.650 points. "I was known for bars," Tweddle said. This is my first medal in floor, and it is the best feeling ever."

In April 2010, Tweddle attended the World Cup in Paris, France. She came in second on uneven bars scoring 15.650 and first on floor scoring 15.025.

Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in May. On uneven bars and 14.925 on the floor, she earned her a second-place finish for the British team. She finished first on uneven bars scoring 15.875 and first on floor scoring 14.825.

Tweddle competed at the British Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom, in July. With a score of 15.000, she came in first on uneven bars.

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in October. On uneven bars and 14.666 on the floor, she scored 15.733 on uneven bars and 14.666 on the floor for the British team's seventh-place finish. With a score of 15.733, she came in first in the event finals. "It means everything to me" to regain the bars's title, Tweddle said. I'm so proud that I've worked so hard in the gym for the day. I wasn't following the previous routines, but I could tell the two Chinese girls ahead of me that they had fallen and so I kept calm, but I knew then that if I went clean I had a good chance of winning the trophy."

In the 2010 New Year Honours, Tweddle was made Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). "It's been totally surreal to receive an MBE," she said. At first, I didn't really believe it. I waited for the letter that told me that I was going to the palace before I did. I was surprisingly upbeat about the event – I was worried about tripping up as I stepped in. Everyone kept saying to me, 'You are not going to cartwheel in.' I train to win gymnastics medals, but the MBE is a huge honour far from gymnastics.

Despite having an injured shin, Tweddle competed at the European Championships in Berlin, Germany, in April. She finished first on uneven bars scoring 15.100 and fourth on floor scoring 14.300 in the event finals.

Tweddle competed in the British Team Championships in Guildford, United Kingdom, in May. On uneven bars and 14.300 on the floor, she scored 14.900 on her first-place finish for her team, City of Liverpool.

In July, Tweddle competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom. She was first on uneven bars scoring 15.200 and first on floor scoring 15.250.

Tweddle competed at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in October. Towards the British team's fifth-place finish, she earned 15.666 on uneven bars and 14.533 on the ground. This was the team's highest placement ever, and they qualified a full team for the Olympics. Tweddle finished seventh in the floor final with a score of 14.500. "The week has been a great success for us as we met our number one goal and our British women's team has been selected for 2012," she said.

Tweddle competed in the World Cup in Doha, Qatar, in March. She received a score of 15.175.

Tweddle had keyhole surgery in April and was unable to participate in the European Championships in May. "I'm sorry not to be in a position to watch the European Union but also grateful that this gives me the opportunity to get myself fully fit and ready for the remainder of the year," she said. I am still in the gym every day and will continue to work with the British Gymnastics medical team to ensure I am properly recovered. The line-up for the European Championship reveals the breadth we have, and I'm positive the girls will do a good job in Brussels."

Tweddle competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in June. She received the uneven bars final with a score of 15.850.

Tweddle was selected to represent the United Kingdom in the 2012 Summer Olympics at the start of July. "It's obviously a great honor to be selected to Team GB for the Olympic Games," she said. This will be my third Olympics and it will be on home soil, so it's definitely the most unique. The build-up has been completely different, and you can certainly feel the entire country's support. Everyone knows everything about the Games this year, and many are extremely interested in all of the activities and all the team members. It's been a long journey from Beijing to here. I wasn't even sure I'd live in London after 2008, but the public's ferocious support for London and excitement has really inspired me to keep training hard. Every part of the Olympic Games is thrilling, from the time you get the official letter, the kiting out, and the multi-sport atmosphere, it's all an honor to be a part of and I can't wait."

Tweddle competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, at the end of July. Tweddle helped Great Britain qualify to the team final in fifth place, while individually, she qualified to the uneven bars final in first place, and was the first reserve for the floor exercise finals.

Tweddle scored 15.833 on the uneven bars and 14.166 on floor exercise, leading to the British team's sixth-place finish.

Tweddle secured the bronze medal in the uneven bars final with a score of 15.916, behind Aliya Mustafina of Russia and reigning Olympic champion In the case He Kexin of China. "It's the greatest feeling in the world to win the bronze medal," she said today, but there was one point in particular that I hoped I'd finish in 4th place as in Beijing 08, so I'm really proud. This was the one medal from my collection; this was the one I really wanted. As soon as I stepped into the arena, I tried to stay calm and do what I do best, and the audience was electrified. I haven't made any future plans yet, but I am sure I will not be in Rio, but I'm planning to go home and have a little vacation and get back to the gym; if my heart is in it, I'll keep it. I had a step on my dismount, but at the end of the day, I had to go for the difficult dismount to try for a medal. To be fair, I could go on 'What if', but I'm not disappointed in the slightest, any gold, and any shade is what I always wanted, so I'm extremely grateful."

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