Ellie Downie

Ellie Downie enjoyed a credible career as a professional Gymnast, representing Great Britain in the sport's most significant events. Performing as an elite all-rounder on every major global platform, including the Rio Olympics and European Championships, Ellie had solidified herself a place in sporting history for her country before she even turned twenty. Dedicating her life to the discipline, Ellie is a truly inspirational sportswoman who perfectly exemplifies commitment, peak performance and courage, all qualities she explores and instils in her audiences as an after dinner and school speaker.

Ellie was a significant competitor at the highest level of global gymnastics, repeatedly gaining medals and record-breaking achievements. Making her senior debut in 2015, Ellie took three medals at the British Championships securing her place and a bronze win in the European Championship later that year. In the same event in 2017, Ellie became the first ever British gymnast to win gold in a Major international Championship. A formidable and naturally gifted athlete, Ellie has also been a part of the first British global team medal at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, represented team Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics and came third in the 2019 World Championships in the vault.

Stepping into the gym before she even started school, Ellie began learning the ropes at Nottingham Gymnastics Academy as a young girl. Showing early signs of a natural flair for floor and strength in vault, she was snapped up for the county team before setting her sights on a career as an artistic gymnast. Ellie’s junior career was unparalleled, winning four medals, a silver and three bronzes, in vault, all-around, balance beam and floor respectively at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics. In addition, she won gold in the vault at the 2014 European Championships.

Competing across vault, floor, uneven bars and balance beam proves Ellie’s physical capabilities as much as her mental endurance required for adapting to each discipline in one competition. Ellie has already become the UK’s most successful British gymnast in history and shows no signs of stopping there, this perseverance to reach peak performance saw her recognised as the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year in 2015. Following her retirement announcement in 2023, Ellie has been a committed coach to junior athletes and was honoured with the appointment of MBE for Services to Gymnastics in the 2024 New Year's Honours. As a speaker, she offers an intricate insight into maintaining the drive to reach your dreams and shares entertaining stories from her illustrious career thus far.