Tim Sanders to represent Great Britain at the World University Games (From Gazette Series)

Tim Sanders to represent Great Britain at the World University Games

9:06am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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A THORNBURY gymnast who was told he would never compete again after a shoulder operation over two years ago will be representing Great Britain in the prestigious World University Games today.

Tim Sanders, who used to train at Fromeside Gymnastics Club in Winterbourne, was selected for the squad to travel to Belgrade, Serbia, after two successful trials for University athletes’ version of the Olympics.

However, it has been a long journey for the 23-year-old, who is eligible for the third largest multi-sport event in the world having graduated from Loughborough University last year.

He was looking optimistically ahead to trials for the European and Commonwealth Games until he snapped a tendon in his shoulder in January 2007 and, after an operation, a doctor told him he would never compete again.

It was a severe test of character, especially after being kept out for over a year with an ankle injury at 15 and then a knee injury at 19, but Sanders defied the odds and started training again nine months ago.

He was first reserve for the Great Britain squad in the 2005 World University Games but never got to travel to Turkey but he now feels that all the hard work has paid off.

“After being that close it’s nice to get there eventually,” said Sanders.

“I have had countless injuries over the years, I’ve dislocated tendons, I’ve broken bones, and I’ve had ankle and knee problems in the past that have kept me out for a year or so.

“I had a shoulder operation and the doctor said my gymnastics career was over.

“After all that it’s nice to get somewhere and go and compete again.”

The gymnastics team event takes place today, which is also used as qualifying for the individual and individual apparatus events, where the top eight go through to compete on Friday and Saturday.

Sanders added: “The hard work has been done now, I’ve been selected, now I’ve got to keep myself fit and injury free.”

Former Marlwood School pupil Sanders has over 30 British and English championship medals to his name, including 18 golds, and was the under-16 British ring champion in 2000 and English Champion in 2003.

The dedicated artistic gymnast trains six days a week, totalling between 30 and 40 hours on top of his regular job.

After living in Basingstoke for a year, he is set to move back to his hometown of Thornbury after the Games.

Sanders is then hoping to become a full-time gymnastics coach or join the Cirque du Soleil show.