Women in sport: Danusia Francis

Danusia Francis is a half-Jamaican, half-Polish artistic gymnast who was born and bred in the UK. Her biggest dream was to compete professionally in the Olympics, and she left home at a young age in order to pursue her dream. At 22, she made a career change to take some time to work in TV, but her eternal love for gymnastics brought her back to the sport and back to training again and we will see her compete in the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.

We were fortunate enough to be able to chat to Danusia about her love of artistic gymnastics, the pressures she has faced and advice she would give to young girls interested in a career path like hers.

What made you want to start gymnastics and how old were you?

It just started as a hobby my mum took my siblings and I to after school. I was age 5 and immediate loved it. I would practise all my skills at home and couldn’t wait to be back in the gym.

Which other female athletes do you admire?

I have always admired Nastia Liukin. She really played to her strengths as a gymnast and also her comeback for the 2012 Olympics I feel like she went for it and had no regrets having tried and I aimed to use a similar approach when I was coming back for Tokyo. I also look up to the amazing female athletes from Jamaica especially Shelly-Ann Fraser and Elaine Thompson. I love the charisma Jamaican athletes always bring to the sporting world!

After the Netflix documentary Athlete A came out, do you think there has been change in the gymnastics world towards not only sexual assualt, but the industry and way in which gymnasts are trained?

I think Athlete A brought to the surface the culture of fear within a lot of elite training environments and the fact that many coaches or people with power in the sport prioritise results over the well-being of the athletes, which ultimately in the USA was a factor that led to the sexual abuse of many people. I have been super lucky that I have had great coaches and a great environment. But I have always been aware that I was lucky just from witnessing the way other coaches spoke to their gymnasts at national trainings or stories from my UCLA team mates. It truly saddens me to hear many of the details of what my friends and other gymnasts around the world went through but I am glad current and ex-gymnasts feel they have a voice now. I would say myself and many successful gymnasts are proof that gymnasts don’t need to be abused to get results.

Which other women inspire you?

My Mum inspires me she has always helped me to believe in myself and realise that no goal is too big. Being a single parent raising four children she also exemplifies this! Also my UCLA coach Miss Val, she lives life to the fullest with such a grateful outlook. One of my coaches, Natalia Ilienko Jarvis, she was World Champion herself but she is so humble and coaches every gymnast with so much energy and passion and truly wants each of us to reach out potential. So many more women in my life inspire me but these three are certainly up there!

What has been your career highlight to date?

It has to be qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics after coming so close twice before. It is my childhood dream and such a huge dream so to finally accomplish it after so many years was the most amazing feeling! I am so proud to be able to say I have achieved my dream!

What kind of pressures do you face as a gymnast?

Gymnastics is a very psychological sport so every day in the gym there is pressure to be in the right state of mind to perform dangerous skills. And then the pressure to perform when it counts, during competitions. On top of this are the pressures to be in shape. I also think social media adds another layer of pressure, a few minutes after you perform your routines are posted online for thousands of people to critique.

What advice would you give young girls looking to pursue a career in gymnastics?

Don’t compare yourself to others focus on your strengths and what can help you be the best gymnast you can be. Make sure you have a good relationship with your coaches and talk to you parents or someone you trust if you feel something isn’t right. Most of all enjoy it. If you aren’t enjoying it, there’s no point because you only have one life!

What’s next for you?

The Tokyo Olympics! I am hoping with the Pandemic it can still go ahead in 2021! Post gymnastics, I hope to still be involved in the sport doing my workshops (see danusiafrancis.co.uk), coaching and choreography and maybe even own a gym in the future! I also want to explore other career paths alongside it such as stunt work which I have done some of already!

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Find Danusia on Instagram @danusiafrancis and and follow her journey in advance of Tokyo next year!