Georgina Cassar (born 9 September 1993) is a Gibraltarian/British rhythmic gymnast. She represented Gibraltar at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India and competed for Team GB at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.

Georgina Cassar
Personal information
Country represented United Kingdom
Regions represented Gibraltar
Born (1993-09-09) 9 September 1993 (age 31)
Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
HometownGibraltar
ResidenceBath, United Kingdom
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
DisciplineRhythmic gymnastics
LevelSenior International
ClubGibraltar Rhythmic Gymnastics Association
Head coach(es)Sarah Moon
Former coach(es)Sally Holmes

Early life

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Cassar was born on 9 September 1993 in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom[1] to Maltese father Franco and English mother Jackie. The family settled in Gibraltar in 1996 when her father took up a senior post at a local bank.[2][3][4] She was mainly educated in Gibraltar having attended Governor's Meadow Primary School, Bishop Fitzgerald Middle School and Westside School.[2][5]

Gymnastics career

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Cassar began training in ballet at the age of three.[6] Cassar represented Gibraltar at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. She came 16th in the overall competition.[4] In 2012, she travelled to Bath to train full-time with the Olympic team. While there, she studied A-levels in psychology, biology and PE at King Edward's School.[7] She planned on remaining in Bath for her second year of A-levels following the games.[8]

Olympic debut

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Cassar competed for Team GB at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.[4] She could not represent her native Gibraltar because the Gibraltar Olympic Committee is not recognised by the International Olympic Committee; however, using a similar by-law to Anguillan long jumper Shara Proctor and Turks and Caicos Islander Delano Williams, Cassar was eligible to represent the United Kingdom as Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and so she holds a British passport.[9] She is the first athlete from Gibraltar to compete at the Olympic Games.[8][10]

Cassar appeared on 10 August with the rest of Team GB. They came in 12th and failed to make the finals.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "London 2012 - Georgina Cassar profile". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b Mascarenhas, Alice (6 August 2012). "Georgina's Olympic Dream". Gibraltar Chronicle.
  3. ^ Vella, Alex (25 July 2012). "A Maltese link in Team GB". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "London 2012, Georgina Cassar". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  5. ^ Cassar, Georgina. "London 2012: A Personal Reflection". PE Review. Hodder Education Magazines. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  6. ^ Golt, Sonia. "7 Days Interview: Sally Holmes and Georgina Cassar". 7 Days. Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Olympian Cassar considering options after unbeatable year". Eurosport. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Georgina Cassar is the rock for history makers". This is Bath. Bath Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  9. ^ British Overseas Territories
  10. ^ a b Mascarenhas, Alice (11 August 2012). "One great journey ends for Georgina, Gibraltar's first Olympian". Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013.
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