Becky Downie: Paris, Trauma, Fibroids & Changing British Gymnastics

Three-time Olympian Becky Downie is here and opens up about the difficult years between Tokyo and Paris, why she never officially retired after the Olympics, recovering from multiple surgeries and two Achilles ruptures, competing without a permanent gym or coach, and why she believes British Gymnastics has finally begun to change. We also discuss the future of uneven bars, athlete autonomy, trauma-informed coaching, and the equipment issue Becky says is holding back bar specialists around the world.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Cold Open – "I Wasn't a Functioning Human"
00:25 Introduction: Becky Downie's Journey to Paris
05:27 Life After Paris: Retirement, Fibroids & Starting Again
08:08 Discovering the Fibroids That Changed Everything
14:42 Dating, Family & Wanting Children
15:27 Paris Olympics: New Coaches, New Team Dynamic
20:00 Trauma, Lilleshall & Recovering After Tokyo
31:19 Learning to Heal & Process Trauma
37:39 Training Without a Coach or Gym
40:12 Why LA 2028 Is Still the Goal
44:07 Sponsor: Huel
45:37 Body Maintenance, Strength Training & Supplements
51:30 Has British Gymnastics Really Changed?
54:22 Equipment Injustice: The Uneven Bars Problem
57:03 Why Gymnova Bars Need to Change
01:01:08 Two Achilles Ruptures & Learning to Trust Your Body
01:08:25 Athlete Autonomy & Speaking Up
01:11:17 Athlete Representation & The Future
01:12:34 The Book Becky Wants to Write
01:15:33 Looking Ahead to LA 2028
01:15:43 Update: Coach, New Gym & Commonwealth Games Decision

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