Frankie Jones became a household name after spearheading Wales' medal efforts at the beginning of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Her gold medal finish was the pinnacle of many years of dedication, determination and hard work, but her preparation for these Games started long before any gruelling pembinaan schedule.
In fact many years earlier, as a toddler, Frankie embarked on a journey of opportunity which would allow her to fulfil her greatest potential; a journey which would see her become physically literate.
Here, the former Rhythmic Gymnast tells us how she believes the early introduction to physical activity as a toddler by her mother, the fun and supportive environment offered by her first childhood club, encouragement by teachers and friends, along with the opportunity to practice basic, and then more advanced skills in many different settings, all fostered her love for sport and being active, which inevitably gave her the confidence and motivation to develop her skill and ability to reach medal winning heights.
I was certainly not born with a gymnast’s body. I wasn’t naturally flexible and it was only through hard work and persistence that I trained my body. My medals are testament to the hours of movement my body has endured over the past two decades.
As children, my sister and I were encouraged to explore and my mum was a big part in my early-years development. She loved gymnastics and eventually helped coach me before becoming an International Brevet Judge for rhythmic gymnastics.
When I first went to my local gymnastics club at the age of six, the only objective was to have fun! Whether I would be any good at gymnastics didn’t matter. The emphasis was on interacting with other children my age – learning to listen, wait patiently for the apparatus and cheer on my friends.
If I hadn’t have liked the environment of my club, I never would have wanted to return and my career would have been very different. That is so important – for a child to feel safe and happy.
As an athlete, I was always encouraged to have goals. It was important to be aware of my body’s limits but, through the safety of my training, push those boundaries to develop and excel further. I learnt persistence – if I made a mistake in a routine, I would practice again and again until it was perfect – as well as dedication, resilience, determination, focus, discipline and time management.
Having the opportunity to practice these skills was vital in my development as a gymnast, but they would have been the building blocks of any sport I chose.
Once you have the opportunity to practice skills, the next step is having the confidence to keep moving and exploring the body’s many possibilities. Once I started gymnastics I never wanted to stop (I would practice everywhere!) handstands in the playground, forward rolls in our back garden and cartwheels in gym class.
Movement unleashes a child’s imagination – they truly believe they can run the fastest, jump the highest and throw the furthest. They are also willing to try anything and it is that fearlessness and excitement that plays such a big part in developing physical literacy.
At every stage in my life there has been a supportive coach, teacher, or friend encouraging me. As I take the next step in my career in sport as a coach, I want to pass on that support to the younger generation, whether they will go on to stand on a Commonwealth podium or not. I believe it is every child’s right to have access to an active and healthy lifestyle.
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