Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club celebrates record-breaking Special Olympics National Games success

Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club is celebrating an incredible week of success after nine of its gymnasts competed at the Special Olympics National Games in Birmingham.

The National Games are held every four years, but this year’s event was particularly special. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Games had not been held since 2017, making Birmingham 2026 the first National Games in nine years.

The Games got off to a spectacular start with the Opening Ceremony at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, where the athletes proudly paraded around the stadium to huge cheers from the crowds.

The celebrations were made even more memorable with a performance from Aitch and his sister Gracie, who entertained the athletes and crowds during the ceremony.

For Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club, it was also a landmark occasion, with the club taking its largest-ever team of nine athletes to the National Games.

The team competed across four days in both Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics, a huge achievement in itself, with Lings being the only club at the Games to compete in both disciplines.

Competing in two disciplines meant the athletes and coaches faced an extremely demanding schedule, with early starts, long competition days, quick lunches and rapid changes between Artistic and Rhythmic events.

Despite the demanding schedule, the team delivered an outstanding performance.

Across the nine athletes, Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club brought home an incredible 75 medals, including an amazing 34 gold medals!

The club had National Champions across both disciplines, with Ruth, Ffion, Lola and Ellie Bea taking Rhythmic Gymnastics National Champion titles, while Lee, Tayla, Ffion, Emily and Ellie Bea became Artistic Gymnastics National Champions.

For Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club, the National Games are about far more than medals.

The Special Olympics gives people with learning disabilities the opportunity to compete, develop confidence, make friendships and discover what they are capable of.

And this year's Games provided plenty of moments for the Lings athletes to shine.

For many of the gymnasts, this was their first experience of competing at a National Games, while others were returning for another opportunity to represent their club on the national stage.

The results were nothing short of phenomenal.

The achievements continued throughout the week, with athletes competing under pressure, supporting one another and producing performances they can be hugely proud of.

The success in Birmingham is a huge milestone for Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club, which has spent decades providing opportunities for gymnasts with learning disabilities to participate, compete and achieve their potential.

The story of Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club is also one of family, love and an incredible legacy. The club was founded by Brenda Hughes in the late 1980s after her third daughter, Ruth, was born with Down Syndrome. Wanting to give Ruth the same opportunities to enjoy gymnastics as her sisters, Brenda created a club that would go on to change the lives of countless children and adults with learning disabilities. In 2017, after Brenda was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the club was taken over by her daughter, Cora Martina, who has continued to build on her mother’s vision. Brenda sadly passed away in 2024, but her legacy lives on every week at Lings. Her granddaughter, Evie Martina, is now one of the club’s coaches, while Ruth continues to train every week and has now represented Lings at the National Games for an incredible fourth time. Seeing Ruth still competing at national level, surrounded by a new generation of gymnasts and coaches, is a particularly special reminder of the lasting legacy Brenda created all those years ago

Behind every medal was months of training, dedication and commitment from the athletes, as well as the support of coaches, families and volunteers who helped make the experience possible.

With the celebrations barely over, thoughts are already turning towards the next Games.

There is also a potentially historic opportunity on the horizon, with the club hoping that Great Britain will be successful in its bid to host the Special Olympics World Games in 2031.

After a record-breaking National Games in Birmingham, the Lings team will be hoping their next chapter could take them onto an even bigger stage.

For now, though, nine athletes, 75 medals and 34 golds is a record worth celebrating.

For Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club, Birmingham 2026 will be remembered not only for the extraordinary medal haul, but for the friendships, memories, determination and sheer joy of seeing nine athletes represent their club on the national stage.