World Championships Team announced

British Gymnastics has announced the team of 7 gymnasts that will be heading to Tokyo, Japan for the World Gymnastics Championships from the 10th - 16th October 2011. The team will be led by Beth Tweddle Gymnastics (formerly Total Gymnastics) Director Beth Tweddle, along with Beijing Olympians Hannah Whelan, Becky Downie and Imogen Cairns. Joining them will be Liverpool gymnast Jenni Pinches, Danusia Francis from Heathrow and Laura Edwards from Dynamo!

The 2011 World Championships act as the first qualification competition for places at the 2012 Olympic Games with the British teams aiming to finish in the top 8 to qualify full teams for London. For the 9th to 16th placed teams in Tokyo there will be only one final qualification opportunity in the form of the Olympic Test Event in January 2012, where the remaining 4 Olympic Team places will be granted.

Beth will be aiming to defend her asymetric bars World title from 2010 as well as challenging for the top spots on floor; qualification to the Olympics is where she is setting her sights this time round.