Girl's family miss medal win after leaving early

News imagePA Image of three teenagers wearing tracksuits and holding up medals as they take a selfie standing on a podium.PA
Shantae-Eve Amankwaah (right) claimed the bronze medal behind Wales' Ruby Evans and teammate Abi Martin

Bristol gymnast Shantae-Eve Amankwaah said her family missed her bronze medal-winning performance at the Commonwealth Games after they flew home a day early.

The 17-year-old, who trains at the Bristol Hawks club, delivered a personal best floor routine to claim the bronze medal in Glasgow on Tuesday but her parents and little sister ended up having to watch her from home.

Her dad, former Bristol City defender Kevin Amankwaah, said the return tickets were booked before the family knew Shantae-Eve was in the women's floor final, leaving them unable to make the final day.

Shantae-Eve said: "I wish they were here but it's still nice to know that they're cheering me on from home."

The gymnast claimed the bronze medal in the women's floor final behind gold medallist Ruby Evans of Wales and England teammate Abi Martin.

The teenager also won bronze in the team event, came fourth in the women's individual all-around final and fifth in the uneven bars.

"I just came into it just to enjoy it, have fun and enjoy the moment," she said.

"To come out with a medal and finishing with two world medallists is just amazing."

She said it was the best floor routine she has ever done and it would have been nice if her family had been there to see it.

"I think they booked their tickets for yesterday... so they missed out today," she said after the win.

"But I know they're watching from home."

News imagePA Media Image of a gymnast wearing a red and white leotard. She is pictured in mid-air in a scissor leap.PA Media
Shantae-Eve's father said the family's return tickets were booked before they knew she was in the women's floor final

Her father said they had booked their tickets "for the start of the event on Saturday morning all the way through to the Monday evening".

He said: "We arrived back Monday evening at sort of midnight.

"Then we knew that she was in one more final and we were like - aw, wish we'd extended it, wish we'd extended it."

He said it was his daughter's first major tournament and she had "just been shining bright" throughout.

"The last time we weren't there as well and she had done amazing," he said.

"We thought maybe it's an omen. Maybe we had best stay home."

He said he was "so happy for her, so proud".

He added: "She is over the moon. She's going to be a happy girl when she comes home."

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