Big cheers on Ynys Môn after gymnast Poppy shines at the Commonwealth Games

Poppy (left) pictured with her coach Olivia Bryl. Picture by kind permission of Dai Sport

A young artistic gymnast with an Anglesey connection achieved a fantastic finish in the Commonwealth Games today.

Poppy Grace Stickler, 16, placed fifth in the women’s all-round final at the 2022 Games in Birmingham.

The teenager is cousin to Marc Wilson, a well-known footballer on Ynys Môn, mainly through his involvement with CPD Y Fali of the North Wales Coast West League Division One.

Most of Marc’s family live in Cardiff, including Poppy.

Marc said: “We’re incredibly proud of Poppy. In qualifying, she got 11th individually (the highest out of the team) which is not bad considering all 5 of them are only 16 and in their first senior competition. In her floor routine she came 6th overall to qualify for another final.

“She got 5th today in the overall finals and has her individual floor final to come. The Wales coaches are full of praise for Poppy and the girls, saying they are doing so well for their age and first senior competition.”

Poppy headed to the Commonwealths on a high after last month clinching a stunning silver medal at her first World Challenge Cup appearance.

The Cardiff teenager capped a dream week by marking her first FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup appearance with a superb second place for her floor exercise at the latest series event in Koper, Slovenia.

Proud man: Poppy’s cousin Marc Wilson of CPD Y Fali

Poppy, who turned 16 last month, was also making her senior bow for Great Britain and had qualified in second place for the floor final.

She went on to secure herself a medal with a score of 12.750, which was only bettered by double Olympian Ana Derek from Croatia (12.900).

Her Team Wales spot for the Games was confirmed last month when she was named in the five-strong women’s artistic gymnastics line-up alongside Mia Evans, Jea Maracha, Sofia Micallef and Mali Morgan.

At the Artistic British Championships in Liverpool at the end of March, Poppy produced a brilliant bronze medal winning performance on the floor – after which she was named in the British senior squad for the rest of 2022 – in what is also her first year as a senior gymnast.