Kenilworth born gymnast, Danusia Francis, has made sporting history for her newly adopted country. Never before have Jamaica been represented at the Olympic level in gymnastics but in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday 24th October Danusia performed four faultless routines to finish a creditable 66th overall, a position that earns her home nation a place at the Olympic Test Event in Rio in April. A fantastic and historic achievement made all the more remarkable as Danusia was competing with two fractured ribs, but her desire to wear the colours of her new country drove her on.
Born in Kenilworth, she became a full Jamaican citizen earlier this year through her Jamaican heritage on her father’s side and has quickly become very proud of her new nationality. At the opening ceremony Danusia along with her two team mates all struck the now famous Usain Bolt pose to rapturous applause from the Scottish crowd.
A former member of the British gymnastics team, having competed at previous World and European competitions she now attends UCLA University in the States as part of the powerful Bruins gymnastics team. Her new status as Jamaica’s leading gymnast means a new level of responsibility for the young athlete.
When asked how she felt about her achievement she replied “Its been such a fun competition and I was so proud to wear the colours of Jamaica in front of the world. To get a place for Jamaica at the test event is the icing on the cake and I look forward to getting Jamaican gymnastics recognised. The achievements of Jamaican track and field stars is known around the world but I, along with my team mates, want to make people appreciate Jamaican gymnastics and get more youngsters involved in the sport on the island itself.”
The team already has friends in high places – an Instagram, posted by Francis of their Lightning Bolt entrance pose even got acknowledged favourably by the great man himself – something that thrilled Francis almost as much as qualifying for Rio.
It has been a long road from Kenilworth to California to Kingston but that road is leading her to Rio.