St Mary’s Student Named World Class Gymnast

A third year Sport Science BSc student at St Mary’s University, Twickenham has been named as a World Class Gymnast by the International Gymnastics Federation.

Issy Haigh was given the accolade for acrobatic gymnastics at the 2018 Acrobatic British Championships in Stoke-on-Trent after winning a Bronze medal at the World Games, the equivalent of the Olympic Games for non-Olympic sports, in July 2017.

Issy, who is part of a team with fellow gymnasts Ilisha Boardman and Emily Hancock, is one of less than a hundred acrobatic gymnastics in the world who has been awarded the World Class Gymnast accolade.

Since moving to London from her home in Somerset to study at St Mary’s, Issy has become British champion in her sport three times, double European Silver medallist and won a Silver medal at the Maia World Cup as well as winning Bronze at the World Games.

Senior Lecturer in Sport Sociology Tanya Bunsell, said, “Everyone at St Mary’s is very proud of Issy and her achievements. She is an outstanding student and deserves every bit of success that comes her way."

Issy’s reaction to receiving the accolade can be found in an interview on St Mary’s YouTube page.