Injury-hit Katyback to best

Katy (13) is one of Britain’s best young gymnasts and has lofty ambitions of representing Great Britain at the Olympic Games one day.

In recent months, she has been sidelined because of problems caused by long-running hamstring and thigh injuries that date back to last year and forced her to miss a prestigious contest in Malta.

But she finally regained fitness two weeks before the regional event at Leicester and wowed the judges to grab the overall title.

On individual apparatus, she also took gold on beam and silver in floor (missing out by just 0.1 in the marking), bars and vault in the four-discipline event.

It marks a welcome return to form for Katy, who last hit the headlines in April when she won a gold medal in the bars at the British Gymnastics National Grade Finals.

Even during that contest she had to undergo two bouts of physiotherapy to get through the competition.

Katy is now looking to the future, although she will have to do that without inspirational coach Jody Kime, who is leaving the Nottinghamshire Gymnastics Club where Katy is a member. Katy’s new mentor will be Jody’s father, Ian Kime.

n OUR PHOTO shows Katy demonstrating one of her best moves.