RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS: Fantastic Miss Fox (From Wiltshire Times)

RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS: Fantastic Miss Fox

1:00pm Friday 18th December 2009 in Sport

TROWBRIDGE’S Francesca Fox surpassed all expectations by finishing third overall at the international Happy Cup event in Belgium.

The 17-year-old Matravers School, Westbury, pupil exceeded her own targets to qualify for all four individual finals and become the first Great Britain gymnast to secure a medal.

Competing in the senior category against 30 other girls from the likes of Russia, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Slovenia, Japan and the host nation, Fox was aiming to make at least two individual finals.

Instead she finished second in the rope, ribbon and hoop disciplines and fourth in the ball category.

Fox, along with Birmingham junior Mimi Isabelle Cesar, finished third team overall behind Russia and Uzbekistan.

On her return to Britain, Fox also performed routines alongside her teammates from The City of Bath Rhythmic Gymnastics club at the BBC West Sports Personality of the Year awards.