Emily Dale-beeton

Emily is currently twelve years old and has just been accepted on the team for the Youth Commonwealth Games 2011. She will be the youngest competitor in the competition. Emily is an Elite Gymnast, she trains over 18 hours a week and has been training since she was 6 years old. Gymnastics is a very tough sport and she has had her fair share of disappointments along the way. She never complains about training or conditioning and even when she has the chance of a day off goes to the gym to train. I think she embodies what sport means to so many people. To her it is not a sport it is her whole life. She is determined, dedicated, focused and above all committed. The younger gymnasts all look up to her and she will always take the time to help them when they ask her questions or ask for help. She has learnt to push herself to be a better gymnast and also a better person through her sport. She accepts defeat gracefully, but is then determined to improve the next time she competes. Emily is an inspiration to so many of the little gymnasts to be the best they can be. She would be ever so proud to be able to carry the torch on the Isle of Man as she loves representing our nation. Emily met her heroine Beth Tweddle this year and got to hold her medals she didn't stop smiling for a week! She is a shining example of how young people can use sport in a positive inspirational way and that you should always have goals and dreams and aim for the sky! Citius, Altius, Fortius!