English

Europa Gym Centre CIC [Dartford, ENG]

Peter Etherington

His younger brother Ricco has competed in artistic gymnastics at national junior level. (intlgymnast.com, 10 Mar 2018)

In July 2016 he snapped knee ligaments, tore his hamstring and fractured his leg after falling from the high bar while training. He required six-hour reconstructive surgery and four metal screws to be inserted into his leg. His recovery took 12 months. He then fractured his ankle on his return to training while attempting a vault. (kentonline.co.uk, 22 Jun 2019; thisismoney.co.uk, 20 Jun 2019; Grenade TV YouTube channel, 24 May 2018)

He participated in his first gymnastics session at age three, and began competing in the sport in 2004. "I started gymnastics because I was just running round like crazy at home. I remember jumping on the rings when I first tried a session and I was swinging and pulled my legs up and flipped over. I remember telling everyone how awesome it was. One of the coaches said to my mother I should try out for their recreational class and as I was advanced I made it into that group and it all went from there." (theguardian.com, 21 Jul 2019; zmags.com, 22 Jun 2015; teamgb.com, 28 Aug 2014)

"It wasn't just the sport I loved, it was the way I felt when I was doing it. Being upside down and not knowing where you are was an adrenaline rush even at that age. Before I knew it, I was training six days a week." (theguardian.com, 21 Jul 2019)

To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (thisismoney.co.uk, 20 Jun 2019)

He trains six days a week. (theguardian.com, 21 Jul 2019)

Returning to the sport following serious injuries in 2016 and 2017. (theguardian.com, 21 Jul 2019)

British artistic gymnast Dan Keatings, English footballer David Beckham. (zmags.com, 22 Jun 2015; teamgb.com, 28 Aug 2014)

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." (Instagram profile, 16 Aug 2019)

He was named Young Sportsperson of the Year at the 2014 Pride of Sport Awards. (prideofsportawards.co.uk, 03 Dec 2014)

General
INJURY TROUBLE
He sustained a serious knee injury in 2016 and was out for 12 months. He then fractured his ankle on his return to training, and gave genuine thought to quitting the sport. "When I went through my injuries, I didn't see myself ever being where I am today. I thought it was game over. Thankfully, my psychologist helped me through that dark time. She talked me through the process and spoke to me weekly. It was about positive small steps and looking at the bigger picture. We ended up doing a timeline, from time of injury, how I was feeling, what my leg was like and then we'd do it a few weeks later. That went on for a couple of years. I knew that if I give up now, I'm just a quitter but if I keep fighting, until I physically can't do any more, at least I can say I tried." (thisismoney.co.uk, 20 Jun 2019; kentonline.co.uk, 22 Jun 2019; Grenade® TV YouTube channel, 24 May 2018; olympic.org, 18 Jul 2017; theguardian.com, 21 Jul 2019)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
In 2019 he was named an ambassador for the British Gymnastics 'POW!' initiative. "I'm proud to support the POW! Academy. I'm really looking forward to working with the amazing characters and young gymnasts. Gymnastics is all about having fun and the POW! Academy is a great way to inspire kids and celebrate gymnastics." (british-gymnastics.org, 02 Aug 2019)

HERITAGE
He has an Irish father and an Italian mother. (zmags.com, 22 Jun 2015)