Great Britain’s Ellie Downie has retired from gymnastics at the age of 23 in order to prioritise her “mental health and happiness”.<\/span><\/p>\n Downie won 12 medals during her senior career, including a historic all-round European Championship gold in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n She said she made the decision with a “heavy heart and an array of emotions”.<\/span><\/p>\n “After a really tough last few years I’ve made the decision to prioritise my mental health and happiness,” said the 2016 Olympian.<\/span><\/p>\n “Gymnastics has been my life for as long as I can remember and I am proud of everything I was fortunate enough to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n “Competing and winning medals for Great Britain has meant everything and more to me and I’ll miss it enormously.”<\/span><\/p>\n Downie finished 13th in the all-around at the 2016 Olympics despite falling badly on her head during a tumbling routine. <\/span><\/p>\n She became the first British gymnast to win all-around gold at a major international championship with <\/span>victory at the European Championships<\/span><\/a> the following year.<\/span><\/p>\n Downie lost her brother Josh in 2021 after he <\/span>suffered a heart attack during cricket training.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n She decided to take time away from gymnastics after her brother’s death and did not go to the delayed Tokyo Olympics.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2020, Downie and her sister Becky said abusive behaviour in gymnastics was “ingrained” and “completely normalised”.<\/span><\/p>\n Last year, <\/span>the Whyte review<\/span><\/a> found systemic abuse in the sport in Britain.<\/span><\/p>\n
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