At a mere 17 years old, Shantae Amankwaah is about to light up the Commonwealth Games, making her highly anticipated debut in Glasgow. This isn’t just another rookie stepping onto the mat, though. She’s carrying the torch for Bristol’s gymnastics scene, ready to carve out her own legend, fresh off a bronze medal win earlier this year at the British Championships in the senior all-around discipline. Get ready, because this young talent is already making waves.
The Echoes of a Gold Medal Star in Glasgow
Twelve years ago, in 2014, when the Commonwealth Games last hit Glasgow, a little-known teenage gymnast named Claudia Fragapane exploded onto the scene. She snagged four gold medals on her debut, becoming an instant British superstar. Fast forward to now, with the competition back in the same city, and who do we have? Another Bristol-born teenager from the very same Bristol Hawks gymnastics club, Shantae Amankwaah, aiming to follow in Fragapane’s legendary footsteps. Amankwaah admits it’s “surreal” heading to the same competition. She said to BBC Points West, “I’ve always looked up to her. Even in 2014 I was only young, and I didn’t go to this gym yet, but she had so many big achievements, and when I came, she was always someone I looked up to. It’s really inspiring, especially because we’re from the same place, the same area.” Fragapane, who retired in 2024, gave Amankwaah some sage advice too: “It’s really difficult to make the team, and I just wish her the best of luck. She needs to go out there and really enjoy herself and hold all the memories, because next thing she knows she could be sat here, 12 years later, thinking, ‘Wow, where has the time gone?’”
More Than Just a Games Debutant
Don’t mistake Amankwaah for just another participant. At 17, she is the youngest gymnast in Team England’s squad, and she’s set to compete in the uneven bars, beam, and floor. This isn’t her first taste of high-level competition either; she’s competed at World Championships. Back in 2024, she was crowned British junior all-around champion, a serious achievement. Earlier this year, she solidified her standing by winning bronze at the British Championships in the senior women’s all-around discipline. For the Commonwealth Games, though, her goal is clear-eyed and simple: “Just take in the whole experience,” she said. “Obviously it would be nice to get a medal, but just to really enjoy it with the team and have fun, because it only comes round every four years.” She’s locked in on the moment, but you know a competitor like her has that medal in the back of her mind.
Fuelled by an Unbelievable Athletic Bloodline
Talk about a sporting family tree! Shantae Amankwaah doesn’t just have Fragapane’s legacy to draw upon; her own family is absolutely packed with talent. Her grandmother, Rose, was a sprinter once dubbed “the fastest woman in Africa” and even represented Ghana at the Commonwealth Games herself. And her father, Kevin? He racked up over 400 appearances across the English Football League during his playing career, featuring for clubs like Bristol City, Swindon, Swansea, and Exeter. Now a qualified personal trainer, Kevin doesn’t just write her training programs; he offers the kind of mental and emotional support only a pro athlete can. “It’s definitely helped because he’s been through the troubles of sport, so he’s very motivating; he’s the one I go to if I need any help,” Amankwaah explained. “He’s really good with helping me focus; he knows what I need before a competition because I get very nervous. He knows when to give me a bit of space; he knows what wise words will help me to do the best that I can because he’s been through it as well.” The only question is whether her parents can even contain their nerves watching her compete in Glasgow!
Amankwaah’s journey at the Commonwealth Games kicks off on Friday. Get ready to watch this incredible young athlete make her mark, soak in the experience, and maybe, just maybe, add another medal to what’s already shaping up to be a storied family legacy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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