Nine gymnasts from Northampton qualify for the first Special Olympic National Games in almost a decade

Nine athletes from Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club in Earls Barton are preparing to represent Northamptonshire at the Special Olympics GB National Games in Birmingham this August, marking a historic milestone for the club.

The Special Olympics provides year-round sporting opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities, with the National Games held every four years as the highest level of competition in Great Britain.

This year's event carries extra significance, as it will be the first National Games to take place since 2017. The planned 2021 Games in Liverpool were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and infrastructure challenges, meaning athletes have waited almost a decade for the opportunity to compete on the national stage.

For Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club, Birmingham 2026 represents its biggest National Games achievement yet, with a record nine gymnasts earning qualification.

The club has a remarkable history stretching back more than 35 years. It was founded in the late 1980s by Brenda Hughes after her younger daughter Ruth, who has Down syndrome, wanted to take part in gymnastics alongside her sister. Discovering there were no local clubs able to support children with special educational needs, Brenda decided to establish one herself.

Today, Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club remains the only Special Olympics gymnastics club in Northamptonshire and has helped hundreds of athletes develop confidence, independence and sporting success. Ruth continues to train weekly at the age of 42 and will be competing in Birmingham this summer with her coach & sister by her side!

Brenda led athletes to the last National Games in 2017, but sadly passed away in 2024. Her daughter Cora Martina has since continued the club's work, determined to build on the legacy her mother created.

Since then, the club has continued to grow, welcoming more members, supporting athletes to compete across the country and celebrating gymnasts who represented Great Britain at the Special Olympics World Games in 2023.

Now, the club is preparing for its largest-ever National Games team, with nine athletes ready to showcase years of dedication, determination and hard work.

However, attending the Games comes at a significant cost. It is estimated that each athlete will require around £3,000 to cover accommodation, meals, travel, competition fees and the support needed throughout the event.

The club is now appealing to local businesses, organisations and members of the community to help ensure every qualified athlete can take part, regardless of financial circumstances.

Club representatives say Birmingham 2026 is about far more than medals. For many of the gymnasts, simply qualifying is the achievement of a lifetime and a chance to demonstrate their abilities on one of the biggest stages available to athletes with learning disabilities.

As the athletes count down to the opening ceremony, the club hopes the community will rally behind them and help continue a legacy that has been changing lives through gymnastics for more than three decades.