Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie has chosen to hung up her leotard to “prioritise her mental health and happiness”.
Ellie Downie is one half of the famous Downie sister duo – with her older sister being uneven bars specialist Becky Downie.
Both sisters trained at Notts Gymnastics Club in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire throughout their career.
“Gymnastics has been my life for as long as I can remember and I am proud of everything I was fortunate enough to achieve in the sport.”
ELLIE DOWNIE
Via a statement posted on social media, Downie said: “With a heavy heart and an array of emotions, today is the day I announce my retirement from gymnastics.
Downie made history as the first gymnast to win a major all-around crown for Great Britain.
Furthermore, the 23-year-old’s all-around gold was not the only piece of history Downie has to her name.
At 15-years-old, the elite gymnast became the first British woman to win an individual all-around medal at the European Championships.
The vault specialist has won 12 medals over the course of her career – including two World Championship bronzes.
Downie landed her first World Championship medal in the team event alongside her older sister Becky Downie.
In 2019, Downie claimed her second bronze at a World Championship which came in the individual vault event.
The former BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year performed a Double-Twisting Yurchenko and a Cheng finishing behind USA’s Simone Biles and Jade Carey.
Later on in her statement, Downie added: “Gymnastics has been my life for as long as I can remember and I am proud of everything I was fortunate enough to achieve in the sport.”
Following her younger sisters announcement, Becky Downie said via Twitter: “It honestly breaks my heart how it has come to an end for you.
“You deserved so much better but I couldn’t be more proud to be your big sister.”
