Telford teen an inspiration to future generation says PM
A Shropshire gymnast who scooped two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games is ‘an inspiration to the younger generation’ according to Prime Minister David Cameron.
Georgina Hockenhull, a student at Wrekin College, helped Wales’ women to a bronze medal finish in the artistic gymnastics in Glasgow this summer, as well as scooping bronze herself in the beam final.
And the 17-year-old’s achievements didn’t go unnoticed by the country’s leader as she was ‘honoured’ to be invited to a special reception for Commonwealth medallists at Downing Street this week.
The Telford teenage gymnast attended the event with 12 of the Welsh Commonwealth medallists after hearing about the special invitation while at a training camp in France.
“I was so surprised to hear that I had been invited to the reception with the Prime Minister, I was away in France on a training camp when my Mum received the email. She forwarded it to me and when I read it I could not believe it, I was so excited!” said Georgie today.
“I felt so honoured to be one of the athletes selected to go to Downing Street and meet the Prime Minister. I went with 12 of the Welsh Commonwealth medallists from all different sports such as judo, boxing, weightlifting, rhythmic and artistic gymnastics. Also there were athletes from England, Jersey, Isle of Man and Scotland.
“We met the Prime Minister, during the first hour of the reception we had canapés and spent time talking together, it was great to meet some of the athletes from some of the other sports.”
The 17-year-old said the Prime Minister had shown an interest in all the different sports represented at the event and called the Commonwealth Games the highlight of the summer.
“There were about 30 athletes at the reception, The Prime Minister spoke to all of us together. He said we have inspired the younger generation and the Commonwealth Games had been the highlight of the summer!” said Georgie.
“He showed an interest in every sport that was represented at the reception, he seemed to know a lot about all of the sports.”
Wrekin College headmaster Haydn today said the whole school had been gripped by watching A-Level student Georgie as she progressed through the Games.
"To come back with a team bronze medal in the gymnastics would have been a great achievement in itself, but then to win an individual medal on the beam is a really outstanding personal performance,” he said.
“Georgie deserves every success that she achieves, as her gruelling schedule of training whilst studying for A-Levels would defeat most people."
