Shavahn Church
Encyclopedia
Shavahn Church is a British
gymnast, who lives and trains in California
. She formerly competed for the United States but decided in 2005 to represent Great Britain. She made her major international debut at the 2005 world championships in Melbourne
. Though not fully recovered from an injury and severely out of competition practice, Church placed a respectable 20th in the all-around. She trains in the gym run by Chris Waller of UCLA fame, and is also coached by 2000 Olympian Kristen Maloney
. Church's best piece is the bars.
Shavahn was a member of the English team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne
. Due to an injury to captain and world bronze medallist Beth Tweddle
the team had to compete with only four members, and were unable to challenge Australia
for the gold medal. Instead, at the last rotation they were in a dogfight with Canada
for the silver. Shavahn's bars routine secured second place for the team. In the all-around, Shavahn was in medal contention until her beam routine, where a narrow save after a large wobble was not enough to prevent her from dropping behind, and she finished fifth. In apparatus finals she bounced back, finishing second on bars to Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs
of Canada.
Shavahn was also a member of the British team for the 2006 European Championships in Greece
. She had hopes of more success on bars (her highest Commonwealth Games score would have qualified her to the European finals) but injury struck in the qualifying rounds and she was unable to complete the competition. Later in 2006, Shavahn underwent surgery, and the recovery kept her out of further competition that year. She hopes to return in 2007, compete at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
and eventually attend UCLA.
In 2009 Shavahn Church announced her retirement from competition gymnastics.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
gymnast, who lives and trains in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She formerly competed for the United States but decided in 2005 to represent Great Britain. She made her major international debut at the 2005 world championships in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Though not fully recovered from an injury and severely out of competition practice, Church placed a respectable 20th in the all-around. She trains in the gym run by Chris Waller of UCLA fame, and is also coached by 2000 Olympian Kristen Maloney
Kristen Maloney
Kristin Ann Maloney , also known as Kristen Maloney, is a retired gymnast from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, United States, who was coached by Jack Carter in the 2000 Olympics and won bronze in the Team Event. Maloney was also the U.S...
. Church's best piece is the bars.
Shavahn was a member of the English team for the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Due to an injury to captain and world bronze medallist Beth Tweddle
Beth Tweddle
Elizabeth "Beth" Kimberly Tweddle MBE is an English gymnast. Tweddle is a three time world champion having won the 2010 World Championships and 2006 World Championshipson the uneven bars and the 2009 World Championships on the floor...
the team had to compete with only four members, and were unable to challenge Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for the gold medal. Instead, at the last rotation they were in a dogfight with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for the silver. Shavahn's bars routine secured second place for the team. In the all-around, Shavahn was in medal contention until her beam routine, where a narrow save after a large wobble was not enough to prevent her from dropping behind, and she finished fifth. In apparatus finals she bounced back, finishing second on bars to Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs
Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs is a Canadian gymnast. She was born in Mississauga, Ontario. She first started gymnastics in 1993, and competed in her first international event in 2001...
of Canada.
Shavahn was also a member of the British team for the 2006 European Championships in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. She had hopes of more success on bars (her highest Commonwealth Games score would have qualified her to the European finals) but injury struck in the qualifying rounds and she was unable to complete the competition. Later in 2006, Shavahn underwent surgery, and the recovery kept her out of further competition that year. She hopes to return in 2007, compete at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and eventually attend UCLA.
In 2009 Shavahn Church announced her retirement from competition gymnastics.