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Gymnastics Athlete Casey Leigh Shard

Location: Runcorn, Cheshire

Dad, Andy: “In gymnastics Casey-Leigh has found a place and a purpose. That’s made a massive difference to her whole life.”

Casey-Leigh is 13 years old. She is the youngest member of the world games squad. Her dad Andy is one of the gymnastics coaches for the SOGB team.

Casey-Leigh was born premature. She has dyspraxia which challenges her efforts at mental/physical coordination. She also has a range of learning disabilities. During her early years she struggled with always coming last, and trying to accept herself. Her self-esteem was very low. In a family of gymnasts (older and younger brothers) and coaches (both parents) she was encouraged to try the sport herself.

The first time Casey-Leigh tried the low beam she couldn’t stop falling off it, she was unable to stand straight or keep any balance. It was in the floor routines and the vault that she discovered her ability and started to gain confidence. That gave her the courage to return to the beam, now things have turned full circle and it is her strongest point.

Casey-Leigh started training from the age of 5 and has been competing in Special Olympics gymnastics for the past 4/5 years. She entered her first competition when she was 8 years old. Since brother Kemlyn won gold at the last world games in Dublin 2003 she has become determined to do even better than him. This has given her complete focus and pushed up her standard impressively.

Dad Andy says she has had a lot of knock-backs from people around her who didn’t believe in her abilities or give any credit to what she achieved. But being able to train, develop and compete as an equal in her gymnastics has given her a strong sense of achievement and boosted her self-image and confidence. Important too has been that she is in a sporting environment where her achievements are recognised. Andy says in gymnastics Casey-Leigh has found “a place and a purpose” and that’s made a massive difference to her whole life. She has found it easier to make friends inside and outside of school and she feels she can “hold her head high”, talk back to anyone who knocks her and believe that no matter what they say she is a winner. Now if she’s finding something difficult it wouldn’t enter her head to give up. She says “I’m just having another bad day” and it only makes her more determined to do better.

Since the last SO national games in Glasgow Casey-Leigh has pushed herself up from Level 1 and in Shanghai she’ll be facing some tough competition in Shanghai. But Casey Leigh loves competition. Her main aim is the chance to show a crowd and the judging panel what she can do. This is a complete turnaround from her early years when she hated it because she suffered very badly from nerves. Still if she doesn’t get something quite right she really takes it to heart. One of the biggest challenges she’s working hardest at improving is the A-bars. She has to build up the strength of her arms so they can hold her body weight through the routine. She trains for 2 hours on Monday evening, Friday morning and Sunday. In the two months before the world games she’ll also hoping to add Wednesday to her training schedule.

Casey-Leigh’s growing confidence is reflected in how she is as a team member. From an early shyness, she’s now chatty and friendly and gets on well with everyone. The support she gives and receives in the training group or any squad she’s part of has also increased her confidence outside sport.

Her gymnastics idol is 21 year old world champion British gymnast Beth Treadle. Casey-Leigh met her at a training session in Liverpool when she came to wish the northwest gymnasts good luck for the national Glasgow games.

Casey-Leigh has been regional champion twice. She was also national champion in Glasgow, where she scored higher in the floor routine than any gymnast at any level.. And despite a badly damaged wrist she won a gold medal. Outside of Special Olympics she has just been selected for the British Gymnastics GMPD national squad and will train with them about 4 times a year. At an event for the British gymnastics national development plan she was one of only two gymnasts awarded distinction (other was Holly Cantrill SO gymnast from Scotland)

One of Casey-Leigh’s older brothers was a gymnast and is now coach who helps with the SO group and works with her. Her younger brother Keven aged 9 is also a gymnast with a sight impairment, not part of Special Olympics. Casey-Leigh likes to practise at home but says “It’s not fair” that she lives with three coaches, so she often takes off to her bedroom away from critical eyes.

TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ATHLETES OR COACHES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SOGB NATIONAL OFFICE.

TELEPHONE: 020 7696 5569 OR EMAIL TO: pr@sogb.org.uk