Wikipedia

Tara Donnelly

Tara Megan Donnelly (born 25 December 1998) is a retired Manx artistic gymnast. She is the 2021 Northern European champion on floor exercise. She previously represented Ireland in international competition.

Tara Donnelly
Donnelly at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Personal information
Full nameTara Megan Donnelly
Country represented Isle of Man
 Great Britain
Former countries represented Ireland
Born (1998-12-25) December 25, 1998 (age 25)
Isle of Man
Height162 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Years on national team2013–2023 (IOM)
2015–18 (IRL)
ClubEllan Vannin
EducationLoughborough University
Head coach(es)Valery Molchanov
Retired4 February 2024[1]
Medal record
Representing  Isle of Man
Northern European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Cardiff Floor Exercise
Island Games
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gotland All-Around
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gotland Vault
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gotland Balance Beam
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gotland Floor Exercise
Silver medal – second place 2017 Gotland Uneven Bars
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Bermuda Floor Exercise

Early life

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Donnelly was born on the Isle of Man in 1998. She has a sister, Chloe, who is also a gymnast.[2] She is a dual citizen of Ireland and Great Britain.[3]

Gymnastics career

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2013

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Donnelly competed at the British Championships where she finished 17th in the junior all-around division.[4] She competed at the Island Games, helping the Isle of Man finish first in the team floor and vault competition and individually won bronze on floor exercise.[5] She next competed at the Northern European Championships where she helped the Isle of Man finish eighth as a team and individually she placed fifth on vault.[6]

2014

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Donnelly competed at the Welsh, English, and British championships early in the year. She was selected to represent the Isle of Man at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. While there she helped Isle of Man finish 10th as a team.[7]

2015

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In 2015 Donnelly began representing Ireland in international competition. She made her debut for Ireland at the European Championships.[8] Additionally she competed at the European Games and the World Championships, representing Ireland, and at the Northern European Championships representing the Isle of Man.

2017

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Donnelly competed at the English Championships and the Irish Championships, winning silver in the all-around at the latter. In June she competed at the Island Games where she dominated the competition. She helped Isle of Man finish first in the team floor and vault event and individually she won gold in the all-around, vault, balance beam, and floor exercise and silver on uneven bars.[9] She competed at the Northern European Championships, representing Ireland. She helped the team finish seventh.

2018

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Donnelly competed at the Irish Championships in early 2018. She was slated to compete at the 2018 Commonwealth Games as part of the Manx delegation; however she was unable to do so due to representing Ireland opposed to Great Britain in international competition.[3]

2021

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Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and no longer representing Ireland in international competition, Donnelly did not compete again until 2021. In early 2021 her nationality change officially went through and her FIG license was officially updated to Great Britain.[10] In November Donnelly competed at the Malta International where she placed first in the all-around and on vault, balance beam, and floor exercise. She won bronze on the uneven bars behind Ella Borg of Malta and fellow Manx gymnast Lucy Worthington.[2] Donnelly next competed at the Northern European Championships. While there she helped Isle of Man finish sixth as a team and individually she finished first on floor exercise, fourth in the all-around, sixth on balance beam, and seventh on vault.[11]

2022

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In early 2022 Donnelly competed at the Scottish, English, and British Championships. Due to her results at these various championships she was chosen to represent the Isle of Man at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.[12] While there she qualified to the all-around final where she finished 13th.

Competitive history

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Year Event Team AA VT UB BB FX
Junior
2013 British Championships 17
British Team Championships 11 21
Island Games   7 5  
Northern European Championships 8 28 5
Senior
2014 Welsh Championships 7
English Championships (guest) 5
British Championships 20 6
Commonwealth Games 10 25
2015
European Championships 44
FIT Challenge 8 33
European Games 18 56
Northern European Championships 22
World Championships 159
2017 English Championships (guest) 5
Irish Championships  
Island Games            
Northern European Championships 7
2018 Irish Championships 4
2021 Malta International          
Northern European Championships 6 4 7 6  
2022 Scottish Championships (guest)  
English Championships (guest)  
British Championships 23 7
Commonwealth Games 13

See also

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References

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  1. ^ @Taradonnelly_ (February 4, 2024). "A little update 🤍" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b "Local gymnasts dominate 2021 Malta International". IOM Today. November 25, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Gymnast explains CWG absence". Manx Radio. January 5, 2018.
  4. ^ "2013 British Championships Results". The Gymternet. March 24, 2013.
  5. ^ "Island Games 2013: Manx athletes to do 'island proud'". BBC. July 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "2013 Northern European Championships Results". The Gymternet. November 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "CWG: Tara Donnelly". Commonwealth Games.
  8. ^ "2015 European Championships Results". The Gymternet. April 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Island Games 2017: Tara Donnelly". Island Games.
  10. ^ "Official news from the Executive Committee - February 2021". International Gymnastics Federation. February 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "2021 Northern European Championships Results". The Gymternet. November 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Commonwealth Games: Isle of Man selects 32-strong team for Birmingham 2022". BBC. May 3, 2022.
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