Gymnastics

An optional sport with two recognised disciplines - artistic and rhythmic - England count Beth Tweddle and Louis Smith among their title winners.

Gymnastics didn't appear on the Commonwealth Games' sports programme until 1978 when on home soil the Canadian team excelled by winning all four gold medals. England made their mark however, securing two silver medals in the men's and women's team events.

1998 is considered by many to be England's best Games in gymnastics. Against all expectations there was a gold medal in the men's team event thanks to Craig Heap, Andrew Atherton, Ross Brewer, John Smethurst and Lee McDermott, who took the title from under the noses of their Australian rivals in a thrilling finale. Lisa Mason and Annika Reeder both secured gold medals.

Beth Tweddle, widely regarded as Britain's greatest ever gymnast, stole the show in 2002 however when she stormed to victory in the uneven bars event. Missing out through injury four years later, she nonetheless travelled to Melbourne to support her teammates, and watched as Louis Smith won his pommel horse gold medal.

Fast forward 12 years and in Delhi there was much joy for England's male artistic gymnasts and in particular Reiss Beckford. Reiss won three silver medals on his Commonwealth Games debut and to celebrate had the Games' logo tattooed on his arm. Louis Smith, Kristian Thomas and Max Whitlock of that men's team then formed part of the historic Great Britain team that secured its first Olympic medals in 100 years.

Did you know: Beth Tweddle won gold for England at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2000.

The governing body for England’s gymnastics team is English Gymnastics.