Olympian confirms trampoline retirement

World championship trampolinist Laura Gallagher has announced her retirement from the sport after more than two decades.

Ms Gallagher, 35, won her first world championship in 2007, and went on to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, that were eventually held in 2021.

She said her retirement has come "at the right time", and can now "look ahead to other things in my life".

The gymnast trained for part of her career at Quayside Gymanstics Club in Bridgwater and now coaches trampolining at Bridgwater and Taunton College.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset, Ms Gallagher said: "It's just been a really long time.

"I'm not leaving the sport because I've lost the love for it. I just wanted to be home a little bit more with my girl and my family.

"I don't want to feel guilty when I go to training."

Looking back on her career, she said: "It's been amazing. It's been really tough, and there's been some really incredible moments in there as well.

"I just think it's given me so much in that it's made me who I am today.

"Elite sport is tough, it's more than just the sport."

She added she is grateful she had a brief time out of the sport in 2016 because it led her to the Tokyo Olympics.

She also thanked her "long-suffering husband", as well as her former coach, Sue Bramble.

Ms Bramble started training Ms Gallagher when she was 15, and said she was "immensely" proud of her success.

"I'm very, very proud of how she's left the sport, not just in what she's achieved but in helping other people as well."

Speaking to Ms Gallagher on BBC Radio Somerset, Ms Bramble added: "Take the rest of your life and if you give it a quarter of what you've given so far, you're going to be a very happy person.

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