You spend so much time with them that they learn everything about you. Amanda could tell by my attitude in the gym, just my emotions, she literally knew me inside out. There were certain traits I had like movements on beam where I'd wobble more or do certain stuff so she literally knew exactly when I had my period.
And if I looked tired or she could see that I was struggling then she'd adapt my training programme so I'd never say it affected my training. Luckily I was at home with my mum when I got my first period. She rang Amanda and said I wouldn't be in that night but then she said, 'look you've got to get used to it if this is what you want to do'. The next day when I went into the gym, Amanda took me to one side and just had a chat with me and said 'it's nothing to worry about, everyone has to go through it', so she was brilliant as well.
At school there were mainly female PE teachers but I think that girls will go to their friends to talk about any problems rather than going to a teacher and quite often that would be what happened in the gym as well. I think most gymnasts are closer to their gym friends because they go through a lot more with them, you just go through a whole different rollercoaster of emotions when you're a gymnast and obviously you're in the gym odd hours a week.
I was lucky and had a great relationship with my coach, but some of the youngsters have come to me and asked 'what do I do, what's going on' and I try and help them. I was quite shy as a kid and my mum used to talk to me about loads of stuff and I was like, 'Mum, Mum, you don't need to say it', but I'm really glad that she did because I know some kids out there don't have that support behind them - so that's why I did a video interview external-link for a teen website talking about puberty [it received over 30, hits] so they can just log on and see that.
I think young girls think it's just them and no-one else is going through it, so if they see top sport stars and athletes, musicians or whoever, talking about their experiences of puberty, it kind of shows that everyone's been through it.
Sometimes I'd go to the gym and feel a bit sorry for myself because I was a bit sore and had a stomach ache, but actually by doing exercise it made me feel better. Beth Tweddle was speaking to Jo Gunston. These comments are now closed.
Beth says a supportive coach and family unit helped her cope with changes during puberty In our latest column celebrating Women's Sport Week three-time world gymnastics champion Beth Tweddle talks about how puberty affected her as a young gymnast and how she managed to navigate the awkward life stage during her sporting career.
Comments Join the conversation. To use comments you will need to have JavaScript enabled. Comment posted by U, at 5 Jun U I'll be glad when this ridiculous attempt at forced parity known as Women's Sport Week comes to an end. This had all the makings of potentially being an interesting article relating to both male and female athletes, but naturally the BBC is only interested in what women have to say on the matter, because in their sheltered out-of-touch world it's only girls and women that have social boundaries.
I'm not sure puberty is sport is actually "the last taboo". Still, it's always interesting to hear the views of Beth Tweddle. An enduring and eloquent athlete. It's nature. You wouldn't be here if it hadn't happened to your mother. Some very strange comments; it's plainly relevant if you're young sportswoman so good on the BBC for talking about it.
What role did your parents play? My parents were so important throughout my career. At first they were the financial and emotional support. Anything I needed came from them and I could ask anything from them.
They were just there for every high and every low. Not at all! I never felt like I was ever forced through the doors of the gym, I always wanted to go to training. They trusted my coach and allowed her to manage my training programme. Your parents have spoken about chatting in the car on the way to training or big tournaments, what did those moments mean to you? What difference did their support make to your performance?
I think it was just having the constant support around me that really helped. All children have highs and lows and the encouragement and goals that they set have to be realistic. These goals should be set with the help of parents and coaches. You set up Total Gymnastics with Steve Parry — what was behind that? I always have and always will love my sport and I want every child to have a go at gymnastics. I have always wanted to give back and always will do. I think it has. World champion gymnast and London Olympic bronze medallist Beth Tweddle has been around the sport long enough to know a significant change when she sees one.
Since announcing her retirement in , Tweddle was not only crowned Queen of TV series Dancing on Ice but she has also taken up extreme sports and has joined a roster of women as an advocate for national sports campaign, This Girl Can.
Back up North and leading by example, she is gearing up to launch Beth Tweddle Gym Stars — a new week programme for children aged between in collaboration with Total Fitness and Waterside Hotel and Leisure Club from March Tweddle has previous experience in this field having set up Total Gymnastics Academy in — the same year she was awarded an MBE.
Designed with fun and play in mind, the programme aims to make gymnastics enjoyable and accessible to all children, teaching them the fundamentals of body management and awareness. Focused on encouraging a new generation of children into gymnastics, Tweddle has no near future plans to compete professionally and has instead welcomed new challenges, using retirement as a springboard to new opportunities and more extreme sports.
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