TBGN INTERVIEWS AMY REGAN

TBGN How did you get started in gymnastics?
AR I started gymnastics because my older sister did gymnastics and when I went along to pick her up, I thought it looked fun so I joined too.

TBGN Who are your favourite Scottish, British and international gymnasts?
AR My favourite Scottish gymnast is Emma White, my favourite British gymnast is Becky Downie and favourite international is Shawn Johnson.

TBGN What is your training schedule like?
AR I train 6 days a week, most sessions are 5 or 6 hours long and altogether I train about 28 hours per week.

TBGN When you are not in the gym what do you like to do?
AR I love going shopping, I like going to the movies or chilling out with my friends. I also help coach younger kids at recreational gymnastics.

TBGN What is the best thing about training at City of Glasgow?
AR I love training at the City of Glasgow because its not too far from my house so I dont have to travel far and all my friends are there. I love my coaches there too.

TBGN What are your favourite and least favourite skills to perform?
ARMy most favourite skill is full in back out on floor and my least favourite is front somersault on beam

TBGN Do you have any new skills you are working on?
ARYes, we are constantly learning new skills and at the moment I am learning loads of new moves

TBGN Who or what inspires you to keep going when things aren’t going well?
AR My Mum is the person who keeps me going and inspires me. No matter what the result or if training has not gone well she can always see a positve aspect. She motivates and encourages me and has made me believe in myself.

TBGN Do you have any superstitions or lucky charms for competitions?
AR I take a me 2 you good luck bear that actually belongs to my sister, to every competition. The first time she lent me it I won so I take it everywhere now. I am not superstitious at all.

TBGN How often do the Scottish team train together?
AR We train together every Sunday and the last weekend of the month we train at the National Sports Centre , Inverclyde from Friday to Sunday.

TBGN You recently competed in Madrid at the Pozuelo International Invitational placing 2nd overall, and at the Northern European Championships in Iceland you brought home a team silver, bronze on floor and placed eighth all around - what were these international experiences like for you?
AR Madrid and Iceland were fantastic experiences. I loved meeting the gymnasts who were from lots of different countries, watching them compete and being part of an international competition was really exciting. I always enjoy competing for Scotland.

TBGN You are well known for having a floor routine with beautiful choreography and presentation – who choreographed this routine and how long did it take you to learn?
AR Daniela Nanova, a Bulgarian Choreographer made up my floor routine and it took me about a week to learn it

TBGN What has been your proudest moment in gymnastics so far?
AR My bronze medal on floor at the Northern Euros was my proudest moment so far. It was a senior competition and I was really proud of myself that I got an individual medal

TBGN What are your future goals in gymnastics?
AR My future goals in gymnastics are first of all to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010. I would like to become part of the British team and hopefully represent Team GB at London 2012 and at World Championships. As you know the Commonwealth Games are coming to Glasgow in 2014 and I would love to be part of the Scotland Team in front of a home crowd. On the domestic front I would like to continue to do well at Scottish and British Championships.