Belfast Schoolgirl, 11, Makes History With Place on Elite GB Women's Gymnastics Squad
Eleven-year-old Soley Laverty from Belfast has made history by earning a place on the 2026 Great Britain Women's Artistic Development Squad — becoming the first gymnast from Northern Ireland to be selected for a GB women's artistic squad in more than 20 years, in a remarkable achievement that has been celebrated across the region and hailed as a landmark moment for gymnastics in Northern Ireland.
Background
Soley Laverty trains at the Salto National Gymnastics Centre in Lisburn, one of Northern Ireland's premier gymnastics facilities and a centre of excellence for the sport in the region. The centre has a proud history of developing elite gymnastic talent, and its chief executive, Mandy McMaster, was herself the first woman to represent Northern Ireland in artistic gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games — making Soley's achievement all the more resonant within the Salto community and a testament to the quality of coaching and support available at the centre.
The selection process for the Great Britain Women's Artistic squads is rigorous and highly competitive, based on a gymnast's performance and results in national competitions and development programmes. The British Gymnastics Championships are a key event where aspiring gymnasts showcase their abilities, with selection criteria emphasising not only technical skill but also a gymnast's progress, commitment, resilience, and dedication. Soley's selection was the result of consistently strong performances, including a top-10 UK finish in her age group and a high ranking at the UK Aspire British Championships — results that marked her out as one of the most promising young gymnasts in the country.
Women's Artistic Gymnastics in Northern Ireland is a growing sport, and Soley's achievement marks a major milestone — the first time in over two decades that a gymnast from the region has been selected for a GB squad. The sport is overseen by both Gymnastics Ireland and British Gymnastics (through Gymnastics Northern Ireland), and Soley's selection is expected to inspire a new generation of young gymnasts across the region to pursue their ambitions at the highest level of the sport.
Key Developments
Soley's selection for the 2026 GB Women's Artistic Development Squad was announced to widespread celebration in Belfast and across Northern Ireland. At just 11 years old, she is one of the youngest members ever selected for the prestigious team, a fact that underscores both the exceptional nature of her talent and the quality of the coaching and support she has received at the Salto National Gymnastics Centre in Lisburn.
The Belfast Telegraph reported the achievement under the headline "History made as Belfast schoolgirl gymnast (11) earns place on elite 2026 GB women's artistic squad," reflecting the significance of the moment for Northern Ireland's gymnastics community. The Irish News also covered the story, describing it as a "historic leap" for young Soley and for the sport in the region. Both publications highlighted the fact that no gymnast from Northern Ireland had achieved this distinction in more than 20 years, underscoring the rarity and importance of Soley's selection.
Soley's achievement is the product of years of dedicated training and the support of her family, coaches, and the wider gymnastics community at Salto. Her selection represents not just a personal triumph but a collective achievement for everyone who has invested in her development and in the growth of gymnastics in Northern Ireland. The Salto centre has expressed enormous pride in her achievement and has pledged to continue providing the support and resources she needs to fulfil her potential.
Why It Matters
Soley Laverty's selection for the GB Women's Artistic Development Squad is a genuinely historic moment for Northern Ireland sport. For more than two decades, no gymnast from the region had broken through to the GB women's artistic programme — a gap that reflects both the challenges of developing elite talent in a smaller sporting nation and the barriers that young athletes from Northern Ireland can face in competing for places on British squads. Soley's achievement demonstrates that those barriers can be overcome with talent, hard work, and the right support structures. It also sends a powerful message to young gymnasts across Northern Ireland that the highest levels of the sport are within reach.
Local Impact
For Belfast and Northern Ireland, Soley Laverty's achievement is a source of immense pride and a genuine cause for celebration. Sport has long played a vital role in the life of this community, and the emergence of a young athlete of Soley's calibre is the kind of good news story that resonates across the region. The Salto National Gymnastics Centre in Lisburn will undoubtedly see increased interest from young gymnasts inspired by her example, and the wider gymnastics community in Northern Ireland will be energised by the knowledge that one of their own has reached the elite level of the GB programme. Her story is a reminder that world-class talent can emerge from anywhere — including Belfast.
What's Next
Soley Laverty's journey with the GB Women's Artistic Development Squad is just beginning. The squad provides a pathway to the senior GB programme and, ultimately, to international competition at the highest level. With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Soley's development over the coming years will be watched with great interest by the gymnastics community in Northern Ireland and beyond. Full coverage of her historic achievement is available via the Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News.
