Local gymnast shines on return

Local gymnast Poppy Blair has delivered an inspiring return to competition, showcasing resilience, determination and exceptional commitment after a year of significant challenges.

Representing Tameside School of Gymnastics (TSOG), Poppy competed at the British Championships in Liverpool over the weekend, securing a place among the top 30 gymnasts in the country - an outstanding achievement given the challenges she has faced.

Poppy is no stranger to success. She was a member of the England squad for four years as both a junior and first-year senior, representing her country internationally in Norway and the Czech Republic. 

During this time, she earned multiple medals both individually and as part of the England team. 

In 2023, she was crowned Junior English Bars Champion, highlighting her strong performances at a national level.

Going into 2025, Poppy had set her sights high, aiming for re-selection to the England squad and pushing towards a top-10 ranking in Great Britain, with ambitions of progressing to major international competitions. 

However, her journey was dramatically interrupted in January 2025 when she suffered a ruptured Achilles during training.

The injury required surgery and left her unable to walk for several months, beginning a long and demanding rehabilitation process. 

Through dedication and perseverance, Poppy committed fully to her recovery, overcoming each challenge with a positive mindset.

Incredibly, just a year after her injury, she made her return to competition at the English Championships. 

With modest expectations of simply competing across all four apparatus, she delivered a composed performance that earned her the opportunity to compete at the British Championships.

In Liverpool, Poppy demonstrated both her technical ability and her resilience, performing with confidence to secure a top-30 finish against the country’s best gymnasts.

Alongside her sporting achievements, Poppy is also studying for her A-levels at Blue Coat Sixth Form and hopes to continue her journey in elite gymnastics while attending university.

Her coaches at TSOG, Cerys Allen and Vikki Bamber, expressed immense pride in her journey, praising her attitude and determination throughout her recovery.

Poppy is still building back towards her previous peak form; her incredible comeback is a testament to her strength and commitment - and a sign of even greater achievements to come.