The second in our series of interviews with some awesome goddess-like gymnasts. We really hope you enjoy reading the articles and getting to know some of your favourites in UK gymnastics, and that they inspire you to work hard and try to reach your own potential!  

Issue 2, April 2018

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From a gymnast’s eye

Meet England Squad member and Aretê Leotards Brand Rep from the City of Newcastle Gym Academy, Lana Chilton…

Lana Chilton, a powerful and experienced gymnast, is one of the stalwarts of the England Gymnastics Squad and the first of our awesome brand representatives. Particularly skilled on the beam, her hard work and focus saw her take the Women's Senior bronze beam medal at the 2017 British Championships.  

Life as a gymnast

Q: What is your favourite apparatus and why? 

A: My favourite apparatus is Beam.  I love beam and unlike many it doesn’t rattle my nerves, I also find that for me it is very rewarding.  This is where I find most of my success.

Q: What have you struggled with the most in gymnastics and what have you found easy?

A: I have always struggled with bars as it never came as naturally to me.  I have never had the hardest routine in competitions, which meant that I had to make up my scores on my other apparatus.

Q: What is preparation for competitions like?

A: Preparation for competition is always the same in the gym for me, once I have my routine which I know I will compete I will do them to stick or to go clean every session until it’s consistent. Outside the gym I remain calm and don’t really overthink the comp.

Q: Do you have any strange pre-competition rituals? 

A: I always mentally go over my routines just to reassure myself and I listen to music before I compete.

Q: Do you have any goals? What are they? 

A: My goals for in the gym can change daily but my long time/ultimate goal for gymnastics would be to compete in a major championship and eventually go to America to compete in collegiate gymnastics.

Q: What advice would you give to young aspiring gymnasts? 

A: My advice would be that if you have dreams or goals, you have to stick with it no matter what anyone else says because if you want something, no one else will work for it for you.

Q: Do you have any top tips for gymnasts? 

A: My top tips would be to always work hard because in the end it will always be worth it.

Get to know the gymnast 

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not doing gym?

A: Outside of the gym, I love to go to the movies with friends/family. I also love to spend a night in the house with family as I don’t get to do this very often.

Q: What is your favourite movie?

A: My favourite movie would be absolutely anything Disney because I couldn’t pick just one!

Q: What is your favourite food?

A: I don’t have a favourite food because I eat everything and I love food, all types of food. My favourite cuisine would be Chinese food.

This or that? 

Q: Books or Films? 

A: Films because they’re amazing and it takes me too long to read books.

Q: Cats or Dogs?

A: Dogs because they’re like family and we’ve always had one as a family.

Q: Sun or Snow

 A: Sun because snow is far too cold.

Q: Morning or Night time

 A: Night time because I’m definitely not a morning person!

Lana competing in the 2017 British Gymnastics Championships Women's Senior Apparatus Final and taking the Bronze medal!