Craig Heap

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Medal record
Men's Gymnastics
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1998 Kuala Lumpur
Gold	2002 Manchester

Craig Heap (born in Burnley, England) is a retired Commonwealth Games Gold medal winning gymnast who has represented England over 100 times in various international gymnastic competitions.^[1] He has been the English and British champion as well as the captain on many occasions and has won 5 World and 5 European titles in his career.^[2]

[edit] History

Heap began as a gymnast when he was just nine years old after his parents took him to classes out of simple desperation as he was very hyperactive as a child, in an interview with the BBC he stated;

I was a bit of a tearaway as a kid, always jumping over the sofas and racing around the yard. My sister Nicola used to go to gym classes and one day my mum said: 'Instead of leaping over the furniture, get yourself down to the gym with your sister.^[3]

After progressing as a junior gymnast Heap eventually became professional and trained full time though he struggled for money as the grants from Sport England were not vast sums of money nor was much money generated through sponsorship.^[4] A series of injuries only helped to exacerbate his financial shortfalls as long periods out meant even less money. Heap had many such injuries throughout his career, undergoing five operations on his left elbow, surgery to both shoulders, calves, shins, an ankle and a wrist.^[5] Since retiring from Gymnastics Heap has taken a more media related role, appearing on Blue Peter, BBC's 'They Think its all Over', TV advert for Physio Sport, 'Simply the Best' and commentating for the BBC on Gymnastics. He now visits schools around the UK, recently visiting Musselburgh Grammar School near Edinburgh, Scotland. =]