ST HELENS gymnast Rachael Letsche has been crowned the senior women's World Tumbling Champion after a magnificent effort in the final in Daytona, Florida.
The 23-year-old from Sutton Leach was in eighth in qualification but a solid first run in the final and another well executed pass in her second saw her finish on 67.500 - 0.200 points ahead of China's Chen Lingxi.
Portugal’s Raquel Pinto came third on 66.100 points.
After her stunning performance the former Sutton High pupil Letsche said: “It’s an overwhelming feeling I’m so shocked with the results.”
The acrobatic discipline of tumbling - practised on a 25 metre long spring track – takes just a few action-packed seconds. But it takes years of hard work to master.
It blends some of the skills of artistic gymnastics on the floor with those used in trampolining, requiring co-ordination, power, strength and courage.
Gymnasts sprint before performing a series of somersaults and twists.
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