Since Artistic Gymnastics was first introduced into the Commonwealth Games programme in 1978 and Rhythmic in 1990, Scotland’s gymnasts have gone on to win 12 medals.  From record medal tallies to historic firsts, here are just some of the highlights from 40 years years of Team Scotland success.

Glasgow 2014 – The Best Games Ever

In the stunning setting of the SSE Hydro, Gymnastics won their first gold medals since Manchester 2002 and had their most successful Commonwealth Games ever winning two gold, two silver and a bronze. Things got off to the perfect start with the Men’s Team of Liam Davie, Adam Cox, Daniel Keatings, Daniel Purvis and Frank Baines claiming a historic silver, Scotland’s first ever team medal in gymnastics at a Commonwealth Games.

For the rest of the week it was the story of the two Daniels, with Keatings and Purvis each winning a further two medals. Keatings became Commonwealth Games Champion on the Pommel Horse as well as winning silver in the Individual All-Around, whilst teammate Daniel Purvis was the only athlete to collect a full set of medals with gold on Parallel Bars and bronze on Rings to add to his Team silver.

Manchester 2002 – Frew Wins First Gold

Steve Frew came out of retirement to win gold on the rings in his fourth Games, Scotland’s first Artistic medal and first gold in any Gymnastics discipline. Scoring 9.462, he shared the top step of the podium with Herodotos Giorgallas from Cyprus who was given exactly the same score. His win spurred on fellow gymnast Barry Collie, who took bronze in the Vault and also took 4th on Parallel Bars and 6th on High Bar. The Men’s Team of Frew, Collie, Jon Mutch, Ryan McReadie and Adam Cox took 4th place.

The Women’s Team of Gayle Campbell, Helen Galashan and Lynne Donaghy finished 6th. Galashan was the top individual performer taking 9th place in the Individual All-Around, 5th on Beam and 8th in an Asymmetric Bars final won by England’s Beth Tweddle. Campbell was also an apparatus finalist, finishing 7th on Floor.

Victoria 1994 – Rhythmic Leads the Way

Joanne Walker won Scotland’s first ever Gymnastics medal with a bronze in the Rhythmic Hoop event, calling on  her experience from three World and two European Championships. The sensation of the Rhythmic events was 14 year old Kasumi Takahashi from Australia who won all five individual gold medals on offer plus a silver in the Team Event.

The Scottish team of Walker, Gayle Godson and Lyndsey Johnston finished sixth, with Walker and Johnston qualifying for the Individual All-Around where they finished sixth and 12th respectively. Walker was also a finalist in Ribbon (7th), Ball (6th) and Clubs (5th). After the Games she moved to Namibia to take up the post of national coach.

In the Artistic events, Steve Frew, competing in his second Commonwealth Games, took fifth place on High Bar and eighth on Pommel Horse.

Gold Coast 2018 – Men’s Team Medal Again

A full squad of 10 artistic gymnasts (five men and five women) were selected for Team Scotland at Gold Coast 2018. Three gymnasts had competed at Glasgow 2014 including three-time Games medallist Daniel Purvis and Men’s Team silver medallist, Frank Baines. Having won their first ever Team Event medal at Glasgow 2014, Scotland’s men followed up with their second at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, winning bronze on the opening day.

Scotland started on the Pommel Horse, and despite Kelvin Cham subsequently being ruled out through injury after a short landing on the Rings, the men rallied and carried out excellent performances on the Vault, Parallel Bars, and High Bar, before finishing with four impressive Floor routines. After completing all six pieces of apparatus, men had an overall score of 240.975, putting them in third place behind England on 258.95 and Canada on 248.65.

Frank Baines and Hamish Carter both qualified for the Men’s Individual All-Around Final, where they finished fourth and sixth respectively. In the men’s Individual Apparatus Finals there was further success for Team Scotland. Dan Purvis claimed bronze on the Floor, nudging team mate Hamish Carter into fourth and there was a bronze also for Frank Baines on Parallel Bars.

Team Scotland’s women placed fifth in the Women’s Team event, scoring 142.95 points. Both Cara Kennedy and Shannon Archer qualified for the Women’s Individual All-Around Final where they finished ninth and 10th respectively and the Vault Final where Shannon was fifth and Cara seventh.

Melbourne 2006 – Cox Claims Bronze

The magnificent Rod Laver Arena was packed to the rafters as the Gymnastics competition got underway with the Team competitions. Scotland’s men (Adam Cox, Andrew Mackie, Barry Koursarys, Daniel Keatings and Steve Frew) put in a very credible performance to finish fourth overall. The highlight in the individual apparatus finals came from Adam Cox on High Bar, posting a score early in the competition to take bronze.

The women’s team also produced a solid performance in the Team event to finish fifth. In what was a superb effort from a relatively inexperienced team, three gymnasts qualified for the Individual All-Around competition, and four for apparatus finals. In the Floor final it was so near and yet so far for 14-year-old Jennifer Hannah, the youngest member of the Scottish Team, coming agonisingly close to a medal, edged into 4th place by the final competitor.