Poppy-Grace Stickler Explained

Poppy-Grace Stickler
Full Name:Poppy-Grace Stickler
Country:
Birth Date:2006 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Natlteam:2018–present (GBR)
Club:Cymru Caerdydd
Gym:Capital Academy
Collegeteam:Utah Red Rocks (2025–28)
Headcoach:Olivia Bryl
Show-Medals:true

Poppy-Grace Stickler (born 12 June 2006) is a Welsh artistic gymnast. She is the 2019 Northern European all-around silver medalist. She represented Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Early life

Stickler was born in Cardiff in 2006. She attended Whitchurch High School.[1]

Junior gymnastics career

Espoir: 2017–19

Stickler competed at her first Welsh Championships in 2017. She placed fourth in the espoir division.[2] In 2018 Stickler competed at her first British Championships where she placed eleventh in the espoir division. Additionally she won bronze on balance beam behind Alia Leat and Mali Morgan.[3] Stickler made her international debut for Wales at the 2018 Africa Safari International where she helped Wales finish second as a team. Individually she finished seventh in the all-around, fourth on vault, and fifth on floor exercise. She ended the year competing at the British Team Championships where she helped Club Cymru Caerdydd finish first as team and individually Stickler finished third in the all-around.[4]

Stickler competed at the Welsh and British Championships early in 2019. In April she competed at the Pre-Olympic Youth Cup where she placed first in the all-around in the 2006 division.[5] At the British Team Championships Stickler finished third in the all-around. In September Stickler competed at the Northern European Championships. While there she helped Wales finish first as a team. Individually she won silver in the all-around behind fellow Welsh gymnast Emily Thomas. Additionally she finished seventh on balance beam and fifth on floor exercise.[6] Stickler ended the year competing at the Olympic Hopes Cup. While there she helped Wales finish second as a team behind China. Individually she won bronze on vault and floor exercise.[7]

Junior: 2020–21

Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic most competitions were canceled or postponed in 2020. Stickler competed at the 2021 British Championships where she placed third in the all-around and first on vault and floor.[8]

Senior gymnastics career

2022

Stickler became age-eligible for senior competition in 2022. Early in the year she competed at the Welsh and British Championships, placing second in the all-around at the former and third on floor exercise at the latter. Stickler made her international senior debut for Great Britain at the Koper Challenge Cup. She won silver on floor exercise behind Ana Đerek.[9]

Stickler was selected to represent Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. While there she helped the team finish fifth. Individually she placed fifth in the all-around and sixth on floor exercise.[10] Stickler next competed at the Paris Challenge Cup where she placed sixth on floor exercise.

In October Stickler was named as the alternate for the team competing at the 2022 World Championships.[11] During the team final she was on the competition floor supporting the team who won a historic silver medal, Great Britain's highest finish at a World Championships.[12]

2023–24

Stickler was named as the alternate for the team at the 2023 World Championships. She finished the year competing at the 2023 Northern European Championships. She helped Wales win the team competition and individually won bronze on the uneven bars.[13]

On November 22, 2023 she signed her National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Utah and join the Utah Red Rocks gymnastics team for the 2025 season.[14] In early January of 2024 Stickler sustained an L5 fracture in her back and an avulsion fracture on her hip.[15]

Competitive history

YearEventTeamAAVTUBBBFX
Espoir
2017 align=left Welsh Championships 4
2018 align=left British Championships 11
align=left Africa Safari International 7 4 5
align=left British Team Championships
2019 align=left Welsh Championships 7
align=left British Championships 5 4
align=left Pre-Olympic Youth Cup
align=left British Team Championships
align=left 7 5
align=left Elite Gym Massilia 23
align=left Olympic Hopes Cup 11
Junior
2021 align=left British Championships
Senior
2022 align=left Welsh Championships 6
align=left British Championships 11
align=left
align=left Austrian Team Challenge 4 6
align=left 5 5 6
align=left 6
align=left British Team Championships 7
align=left
2023 align=left 7
align=left Welsh Championships
align=left British Championships 4 6
align=left 5 8 7
align=left 6
align=left

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Women's artistic gymnast Poppy Stickler honoured by Whitchurch High School . May 12, 2022 . Welsh Gymnastics.
  2. Web site: 2017 Welsh Championships Results . The Gymternet . December 21, 2017.
  3. Web site: 2018 British Championships Results . The Gymternet . March 12, 2018.
  4. Web site: 2018 British Team Championships Results . The Gymternet . September 18, 2018.
  5. Web site: 2019 Pre-Olympic Youth Cup Results . April 8, 2019 . The Gymternet.
  6. Web site: Poppy Stickler Joins Illustrious School’s Hall Of Fame . . . With Exciting Summer Ahead . May 31, 2022 . Dai Sport.
  7. 1201448512136851456 . WelshGymanstics . December 2, 2019 . Congratulations to our talented women's artistic gymnasts on their outstanding performance at the Olympic Hopes Cup this weekend.
  8. Web site: 2021 British Championships Results . The Gymternet . November 28, 2021.
  9. Web site: Golden girl Zsofia Kovacs steals the show in Koper . . June 20, 2022.
  10. Web site: Stickler reflects on journey after "amazing" Commonwealths . August 1, 2022 . Yahoo! Sports.
  11. Web site: Poppy-Grace Stickler named GB reserve for 2022 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships . October 4, 2022 . Welsh Gymnastics.
  12. Web site: Historic world silver for women’s team in Liverpool . November 1, 2022 . British Gymnastics.
  13. Web site: Another hugely successful Northern Europeans for Welsh artistic gymnasts . November 27, 2023 . Welsh Gymnastics.
  14. Web site: Utah Gymnastics Adds British National Team Member Poppy-Grace Stickler to 2024 Signing Class . University of Utah Athletics . en . 22 December 2023.
  15. Web site: Utah signee Poppy-Grace Stickler hospitalized with fractured back, hip. January 14, 2024. Deseret News.