TBGN: TBGN How did you get started in gymnastics?
LR: I started gym because I had too much energy, so my mum and my nanna took me to Gym Joey's (a kiddies' mini gym) when I was 2 and a half. When I was about 3 years old, my mum's old PE teacher (Mrs May) told my nanna to take me to a proper gym, which she did.

TBGN: Moving school or gym is a big change for anyone. How big an impact did moving both school and gym at the same time have on your life? Any regrets?
LR: I didn't really mind leaving my old gym (Coalville) because I didn't like the travelling, but I didn't really want to leave my old school (Ivanhoe College) because I liked it too much. Yes I was taking a big risk with moving gym and school at the same time but that was a risk I needed to take or else I wouldn't be where I am now.

TBGN: What's are the best things about your (relatively!) new gym (Heathrow GC) and school (St David's, Ashford)?
LR: The best thing about my school is the reputation it has. The best thing about my gym is the coaches, also the things we do like new moves and Christmas displays, also if I hadn't have moved gym I wouldn't be doing the difficult moves that I'm doing now.

TBGN: How did it feel to represent Great Britain in your first international competition against Spain this year? How did you feel the competition went?
LR: I felt excited but soon after it started I just wanted to get the event over with. The competition as a whole went quite bad - I forgot my beam routine which made me more nervous than I normally am.

TBGN: Did you find the prospect of competing against Oana Ban and Floarea Leonida, two of the top Romanian gymnasts, at the Cefta Cup in September this year daunting or exciting?
LR: I didn't really mind. I just went into the competition with my routines in my head and just tried to concentrate on them rather than anything else

TBGN: What new skills and routines can we expect to see from you in the near future?
LR: My new skills that I'm learning are a full turning stalder, hop full into gienger, double back double twist and lots more that will surprise you coming from someone as young as me.

TBGN: Who or what inspires you to keep training after a bad training session or competition?
LR: The fact that bad days happen and that I need and want to be the best that I can be.

TBGN: Do you feel that being a high-level gymnast causes you to miss out on any of the normal aspects of teenage life?
LR: Yes, but I don't mind because I get to go places with the gym and GB team. So in some ways I'm gaining more by being who I am.

TBGN: What do you like to do in your spare time?
LR: Spare time??? You mean apart from my homework?? I don't have much time left after that but I do sometimes go shopping with my mates but that's about it.

TBGN: What's your favourite gym-related memory?
LR: I don't know. I've had a few but I'd say getting my 1st medal at the age of 7. It was such a thrill for me given that I was one of the youngest ever to have competed in the (West Midlands) metropolitan county championships and to have done so well.

TBGN: What's the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you during a training session or a competition? :)
LR: I don't really know. Probably when I was about 5, I was doing a club competition and I was on vault doing a straddle over vault, I slipped down the back of it and landed on my bum. Mum keeps threatening to put the video of it on my Website....

TBGN: What do you hope to achieve during your gymnastics career?
LR: I hope to go to the Olympics, World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. Maybe take home a medal. :P

TBGN: And finally, do you have any advice for aspiring young gymnasts?
LR: Just keep working hard and if you have a bad day or can't do something then calm yourself down, count to ten then get up and try again. Never put yourself down. Never let anyone else tell you that you can't do something when you know you can.