Cheetham makes Scotland squad six months after gymastics return

Ellee Cheetham came out of gymnastics retirement in November, was crowned Scottish all-around champion three months later and, having originally planned to watch from the stands, now finds herself competing instead at this summer's Commonwealth Games.

She is one of six debutants among the nine artistic gymnasts chosen to represent Scotland at Glasgow 2026.

City of Manchester's Cheetham returned to the sport after a six-year hiatus following two surgeries last year and entered her first Scottish championships with little expectation and looking to simply enjoy returning to the sport.

However, in addition to her overall gold medal, Cheetham secured silvers in both the bars and vault - and now is "overjoyed" to have been chosen for Team Scotland.

"That it's here for a start, that it's in a nation that I've always been a part of and that my family are so on board," she said. "They've been waiting to order tickets since last year.

"When I mentioned going back to gymnastics, they said, 'so when are we ordering tickets' and I said 'whoa, I'm not there yet'.

"I was going to go and watch regardless, but now I'm going. I'm going to be the one waving to everybody in an opening ceremony. That's something else."

Cheetham is joined in the women's team by 2025 champion Crystelle Lake, City of Glasgow's Ava MacFarlane and Lottie Smith, who won all-around bronze at last year's Northern European Championships, all of whom will be making their Commonwealth Games debuts.

Meanwhile, Hamish Carter, who won bronze in the Gold Coast in 2018, is joined in the men's team by Birmingham 2022 team-mates Cameron Lynn and Pavel Karnejenko.

Completing the line-up are Scottish all-around champion Reuben Ward and British Universities all-around champion Connor Sullivan.

Reuben, a double bronze medallist at the 2022 European Junior Championships, won gold on pommel horse at the recent British Championships and is excited at making his Commonwealth debut.

"To get that phone call saying you're going to the Games was absolutely amazing," he said.

"Now being around the team, it's feeling real: getting the kit, having interviews, it's really amazing."

The Artistic Gymnastics competition takes place from 24-28 July at The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Arena.