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An early beginner in gymnastics at just 4 years old, Lamara Ann Robb was taken to the gym by her Nanny to burn off excess energy. Age two years old, a doctor had suggest the sport to Lamara's mother after she had taken Lamara to the doctors, convinced that her daughter was hyperactive. Lamara's rise in the sport came to be somewhat by chance. When four year old Lamara was taken along to Coventry Olympic Gym Club having out-grown her toddler's class, the youngster was initially told she was too young to join. However after a coach placed her on the bars to play, tiny Lamara immediately jumped onto the low bar and up onto the high bar and was accepted onto the team there and then.
Lamara isn't the only one with a talent for gymnastics in her family... her mother has been coaching for almost as long as Lamara has been a gymnast, and she now holds senior club coach qualification. It comes in handy living with Lamara! In 1997, Lamara and her mother decided that a move to a better gymnastics club was best for Lamara's gymnastics, and in so she joined Coleville GC under coach Mr. Richard Kearns. From here, Lamara's talents grew and grew, and she added many regional and age-group titles to her collection.
In 2000 after her proposed secondary school informed Lamara that she would not be granted special allowances because of her gymnastics schedule, Lamara was forced to make the difficult decision between school and gymnastics. Lamara withdrew from state education and continued her education from home, with her mother as her tutor. However, this became increasingly difficult and Lamara's coach suggested she attend school near to the gym. This meant earlier mornings, longer days and later nights for Lamara, and they began to affect not only her physical abilities but her mental attitude too. Deciding that nothing good could come of the situation, Lamara made the difficult decision to move to Heathrow Gymnastics Club so that she could attend St Davids school which is affiliated to the gymnastics club. Lamara made the move at the end of 2001 and hasn't looked back since.
2002 has been a mixed year for Lamara. Chosen as one of only two British gymnasts to compete in the Czech Republic, Lamara and team mate Rhian Pugh arrived late and tired, and Lamara was unable to perform to her very best. This aside, Lamara is a dazzling performer on the floor exercise and is certainly one to watch in the future!
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