Mason Jones (Reporter)
A GIBRALTARIAN athlete has expressed her pride after competing at the Olympic Games in London.
Georgina Cassar became the first athlete from the Rock to compete at the Olympics, as part of Team GB’s rhythmic gymnastics team.
The 18-year-old, who also represented Gibraltar at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, helped the team finish 12th in the group all-around competition, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
“It is amazing to be able to say I am an Olympian, and it is something no one can ever take away from me,” Cassar told the Olive Press.
“I set my mind to aim for the Olympic Games and I did it!
“The atmosphere was insane, there is nothing like the roar of a home crowd” she added.
The former Governor’s Meadow First School and Westside pupil trained with the Gibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association before relocating to Bath last year.
She flew back to the Rock after the Olympics to give a motivational talk in the hope of inspiring others at her old club, but hopes to stay longer next time.
“I hope to come back to Gibraltar soon although I expect to be training in Bath for at least another year,” she added.
I didn’t know that Gibraltarians could represent Great Britain & NI in international sports. Does this mean that other British Overseas Dependency citiizens can too e.g. Bermuda, Falkland Islands etc.?
@Gerry
The other British Overseas Territories dont have another country (Spain) vetoing their participation in any international sporting event they are able to veto. But one thing they cannot contest is that Gibraltarians are British Citizens with the same rights and duties as any other British Citizen.
Gibraltarians also represent Great Britain in the thick of it in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq etc…OK Dear? Haven’t heard Spain complain about that!
I am a British Citizen, OK Dear?
I was merely requesting information, I didn’t expect such a hostile reaction. OK Dear?
I regret my ignorant, although perfectly innocent remark. OK Dear?
Happy now Dear?
@ Gerry
My comment was not meant to be hostile, as neither is this one, just informative, just to inform the querant that some British citizens still have to fight for what others take for granted.
Bermuda was in the London 2012 Olympics under her own flag, as were most of the British Overseas Territories, something that was not to be for Gibraltar unfortunately due to the “unsporting” Olympic Spanish politics, which will not allow Gibraltar to take part in international games such as Football, Basketball etc.
A couple of years ago, the Gibraltar flag was snatched and thrown on the ground by Spanish officials from Gibraltarian eight year old children at sporting games they had been invited to in Benidorm, and they were not allowed to go on stage with it as all the other kids had done. Nice eh?
“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_at_the_2012_Summer_Olympics”
The Falkland Islands also had its own little “war” as to representation due to Argentina’s similar “sporting” Olympic spirit.
“http://falklandsnews.wordpress.com/tag/olympics-2012/”
We had a Gibraltarian referee too in the Olympics as well as a torch bearer, and our Chief Minister was officially invited and was in attendance at the Games and on the official barges on the Thames.
The Gibraltar flag will fly at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London in honour of Gibraltar on the 10th September 2012, Gibraltar Day, tomorrow.
“http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=25953”
OK Gerry?
Floreat Gibraltar! Pax.