Cardiff Met Student Sienna Wilkinson Makes History with European TeamGym Bronze

Cardiff Metropolitan University student Sienna Wilkinson has made history as part of the first Great Britain senior women's TeamGym squad to win a European Championship medal, securing bronze in Finland.

Sienna, a first-year Education with QTS student at Cardiff Met, helped Great Britain claim third place at the 2026 European TeamGym Championships in Espoo, Finland, on Saturday 17 October, marking a landmark achievement for the national team.

Competing against Europe's leading gymnastics nations, Great Britain finished with a score of 51.900, behind Sweden and Denmark, to secure the country's first-ever senior women's podium finish in the competition.

For Sienna, who has been involved in gymnastics since the age of three and a half, the result represents the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance and sacrifice.

"Coming back from the European Championships with a bronze medal and making history as the first senior women's team to medal in our category for Great Britain is such a special moment for me.

"To achieve something like this after all the years of hard work, commitment and sacrifice means so much."

The British team entered the final having qualified in fourth place, but delivered an impressive performance across tumble, trampette and floor to climb into the medal positions. Their bronze medal was confirmed following a tense wait after an inquiry from Iceland, who finished fourth.

Sienna, who represents Majestic Gymnastics Club, was also joined in the bronze-medal-winning squad by fellow Welsh gymnast Ffion Brooks.

The achievement is particularly significant for Sienna as she continues to balance international gymnastics with the demands of her first year at Cardiff Met.

Having recently begun her degree, Sienna regularly travels between Cardiff and Bristol for training, combining her academic commitments with the preparation required to compete at the highest level.

"Starting my degree in Education with QTS at Cardiff Metropolitan University while continuing to train in Bristol isn't easy. Balancing university, travelling and gymnastics training can be challenging, but I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to pursue both my education and my sport."

Sienna is also part of the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) at Cardiff Met, which supports student-athletes as they pursue their academic and sporting ambitions.

Having previously represented Great Britain at the 2024 European Championships in Azerbaijan, her latest achievement marks another significant milestone in an international gymnastics career that began with childhood ambitions of wearing the Great Britain kit.

"Being able to represent my country and make history alongside such an incredible team is something I'll always be proud of. I hope this achievement shows that, even when things get difficult, you can still work towards your goals and achieve things you once only dreamed of."

With a historic European bronze medal now secured, Sienna is already looking towards her next challenges, including several national competitions and her ambition to become a 'Master gymnast' in 2028.

Her success is another example of Cardiff Met students achieving on the international sporting stage while continuing their education, reinforcing the University's commitment to developing and supporting dual-career athletes.

Congratulations to Sienna and the entire Great Britain senior women's TeamGym squad on their historic achievement.