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Max Whitlock to miss Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Max Whitlock to miss Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
© Reuters
Three-time Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock is left out of the Team England gymnastics squad for the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Three-time Olympic champion Max Whitlock will not be competing for Team England at the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Reports emerged last month stating that the Tokyo 2020 pommel horse gold medallist was to skip the summer multi-sport event as he continues his time off from the sport.

Team England released the names of gymnasts to compete in Birmingham earlier on Thursday, and four-time champion Whitlock has not been included alongside twins Jennifer Gadirova and Jessica Gadirova.

However, Claudia Fragapane - who won four golds in the Glasgow Games eight years ago - is back in the squad as she aims to consign her injury-hit 2021 season to history.

Fragapane was forced to miss both the European and World Championships last year due to a head and foot injury respectively, but the 24-year-old is now relishing the chance to compete on home soil.

"It feels absolutely amazing to be back competing for Team England eight years later, it feels even more special this time," Fragapane told teamengland.com.

"Coming into Birmingham 2022 I just really want to enjoy myself. I'm so excited, I cannot wait just to get there now and compete with everyone and create more memories."

Claudia Fragapane in action in August 2014© Reuters

Fragapane is joined in the women's artistic team by Alice Kinsella, Kelly Simm, Ondine Achampong and Georgia-Mae Fenton, as Kinsella and Fenton aim to defend their beam and uneven bars titles respectively.

Meanwhile, the men's artistic team is headlined by 2019 parallel bars world champion Joe Fraser, who won the all-around British title earlier this year and will aim to win his first Commonwealth Games medal in Birmingham.

James Hall took home three medals at the Gold Coast Games in 2018 - including gold in the team event - and the 26-year-old is excited by the prospect of competing in front of a home crowd.

"I think 'home Games' has just got a ring to it, it's exciting and going to be great in Birmingham. We've got a lot of people in the team from Birmingham and it's exciting," Hall added.

"For the opportunity to Bring it Home and win gold for the home nation is absolutely massive and if we can do it would be a dream come true."

Fellow competitor Courtney Tulloch won gold as part of the England team alongside Hall in 2018, where he also became Commonwealth champion on rings. European vault bronze medallist Giarnni Regini-Moran and debutant Jake Jarman complete the men's lineup.

In the rhythmic gymnastics, the trio of Marfa Ekimova, Alice Leaper and Saffron Severn will all make their maiden appearances at the multi-sport event, with the former the current British champion.

England Gymnastics squad:

Joe Fraser, James Hall, Courtney Tulloch, Giarnni Regini-Moran, Jake Jarman, Alice Kinsella, Claudia Fragapane, Kelly Simm, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Ondine Achampong, Marfa Ekimova (rhythmic), Alice Leaper (rhythmic), Saffron Severn (rhythmic)

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Written by
Ben Knapton

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GB gymnast Joe Fraser in action in April 2021
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