Elizabeth Popova And Gemma Frizelle Are Hoping To Impress At The World Cup Series . . . As Commonwealth Games Selection Edges Ever Closer

By Carl Field

Welsh rhythmic gymnasts and Birmingham 2022 contenders Elizabeth Popova and Gemma Frizelle will represent Great Britain across Europe this month.

Carmarthen-born Popova, who is in her first year as a senior and doesn’t turn 16 until the end of November, will this weekend be competing in the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup series event in Sofia, Bulgaria – her parents’ homeland.

It will a first senior appearance in a World Cup event for Popova – who is also looking to secure her place on Team Wales for this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

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In 2019 she competed in the World Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships and is also the reigning back-to-back Welsh junior rhythmic champion.

Meanwhile Frizelle, 23, has been selected to represent GB at the World Cup series event in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 22^nd to 24th April.

Frizelle has previously represented GB at both the Rhythmic World and European Championships.

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Welsh senior rhythmic champion Frizelle, a three-time podium finisher at the Rhythmic British Championships, is bidding to earn selection for back-to-back Commonwealth Games having been part of Team Wales on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2018.

Popova and Frizelle are part of British Gymnastics’ Rhythmic Senior Squad for 2022 and have also earned GB selection for the 21^st edition of the Irina Deleanu Cup in Bucharest, Romania, from 29^th April to 1^st May.

Both are attached to Llanelli Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy.