Gritty gymnast Hofheins claims bronze

Women's gymnastics *Photos by Nicola Muirhead

Bermudian Tabytha Hofheins scored 11.650 and performed an impressive routine, which included landing a back-handspring and back-tuck consecutively and nailing her dismount with a round-off and full twist dismount.

Tabytha Hofheins on her way to bronze last night. *Photo by Nicola Muirhead

She told the Bermuda Sun afterwards: “I was extremely happy with how it all worked out. I was hoping to be on the medal stand coming in but I didn’t know what I would win or what it would be in.

“I think the team overall did exceptionally well, I think they all tried their hardest and we competed really hard and gave everything we could.”

Near the end of the event, Sydney Mason was attempting a dismount from the uneven parallel bars but caught her legs on the bar and fell hard, landing on her back and neck. The audience held their breath for a few tense moments while she lay on the ground, but she was able to collect herself and jump up, smile, and pose for the judges.

This attitude exemplified the toughness and grit of the Bermuda team. Coach Duke Nelligan told the Sun: “What I was looking for from our girls was that I want to see them fight.  I want to see them struggle and get up — no tears — and perform.

"You saw how tough Sydney was, she took a pretty good hit on bars and had a pretty good fall, but she’s up, telling everybody: ‘I’m okay!’

“That’s what we are all about. It isn’t just about coming in and doing their routines and saying ‘Well I tried hard’. We are more about coming in and performing and learning to get to the next step, which would be all our girls on the medal stand.

“It’s been a long season for us. We started off back in December, doing routines that were prepping for this meet. What I was looking for was that every girl on this team did skills and added parts to their performances that were stronger and made them more competitive for this event.”