Gymnastics Athlete Verity Boocock
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Coach: Linda Breen
Coach, Linda: “To our absolute surprise Verity performed an almost faultless routine she’d only watched the others do!”
Verity is 18 years old. She was referred by her school to the Special Olympics gymnastics group in Peterborough when she was 8 years old. She has a range of learning disabilities, some of which result in a lack of physical coordination and muscle weakness. She’d never done any kind of sport. She started with artistic gymnastics – vault, beam etc. but really struggled to make any progress and was becoming discouraged. Her need to find something where she could achieve was recognised by her SO coach Linda Breen and when the group had a fun day she gave Verity a gymnastic ribbon, saying “See what you can do with this”. To Linda’s surprise Verity performed the complete Level 1 floor routine. She then gave her a ball and, even bigger surprise, Verity performed a virtually faultless Level 3 routine. She had learned both just by watching other gymnasts. It was clear this was the key to Verity’s talent.
Since then Verity has made huge and consistent progress. Partly due to the encouragement and training of Special Olympics, but her coach says mostly because the discovery of her own ability has produced in Verity a strong dedication to her sport and a determination to excel. Verity puts a lot of effort into working with her disabilities. One example of this is a weaker left arm and leg which causes her problems with balance. So she does a lot of strengthening exercises and with Linda’s help has adapted routines to compensate. Verity knows from experience that for the whole of her gymnastics career she will probably have to repeat many aspects of training and technique over and over. But her enthusiasm never shows any sign of letting up. She trains regularly with the group but she also has a copy of the official routines on video which she practices regularly at home or school.
Verity has competed in many regional competitions and two national events and has plenty of medals to show for her achievements. At her first regional competition she notched up two silver medals and at a British Gymnastics event she won a gold medal for her floor routine. At an SOGB national gymnastics competition she won a total of three gold, one silver and one bronze medal. In Glasgow at the last SOGB national games she won overall gold medal at level 2.
Verity currently trains one day per week on Saturdays. But during the school holidays she will step that up to a more or less daily session in preparation for Shanghai. Some of this will be one-to-one training. As well as Linda, Verity will be working with one of the club’s younger coaches, a former mainstream gymnast 22 year old Jodie East.
Linda’s club and its gymnasts have been given a huge boost with the national lottery’s ‘New Opportunities’ funding to enable more schools to improve the facilities they can offer the local community. Now, instead of once a week, the club gymnasts can train every week night and Saturday morning in a City of Peterborough venue. This is a purpose-built dedicated gymnastics hall which is competition size and has every modern facility, including a sprung floor. Linda says this will do a lot to help gymnasts to know what to expect in big competitions. And that will improve Verity’s ability to prepare for the world games.
Shanghai will be Verity’s first ever international event but Linda doesn’t expect any nerves. She says Verity “blossoms” in front of a crowd in competition. Despite her instinct to please a crowd, Linda says she pulls back if she is praised.
It is likely Verity’s dad won’t be able to go to Shanghai so she will also have to get used to new coaches and escorts as well as team-mates. Verity is an only child. She lives with her dad but attends a special needs residential college in Kings Lynn during the week. Her mum died last year. She had always been a huge supporter of Verity’s gymnastics, went to most of her training sessions and every competition, and also raised a lot of funds for the club. She knew that Verity had been put forward for the British squad but died before her selection was announced.
Verity is happy to talk but questions need to be simple. If she knows what will be asked and can practise it, or talk with support from dad, coach or team-mates this will help.
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