Claudia Fragapane, UK Gymnast, Passion, Invaluable Fire

Messages heard, lessons learned and principles applied from the words of great athletes is timeless and invaluable.

Roger Staubach, nicknamed Captain America and Captain Comeback, is a former American football quarterback in the NFL.

He attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he won the 1963 Heisman Trophy, and after graduation he served in the U.S. Navy, including a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Mr. Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1969 and played with the club during all 11 seasons of his career. He led the team to the Super Bowl five times, four as the starting quarterback. He led the Cowboys to victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII.

He was once quoted as saying, “Confidence comes from hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication.”

There’s a massive buzz in the female gymnastics world about a beautiful young woman who is propelling England to greatness.

Claudia Fragapane, born October 24, 1997 in Bristol is an English artistic gymnast.

fciwomenswrestling.com article, wikimedia photo

She represented England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Great Britain at the 2014 European Championships. She came to prominence at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, winning four gold medals, the first English woman to achieve this at the Commonwealth Games since Joyce Cooper 84 years previously.

In 2015, Ms. Fragapane formed part of the Great Britain women’s team that won the country’s first ever team final medal, a bronze, at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Claudia was selected for the European Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Here she had, overall, a successful competition contributing to a silver medal winning performance in the Team competition.

Her ascension and prolific rise continued to be evident.

“In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without one-hundred percent dedication, you won’t be able to do this.”… Willie Mays

She was selected to compete on the British team at the 2014 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships where she helped the women’s team to qualify into the team finals in 4th place.

Understandably the fans, various gymnastics organizations and the press in England have fallen in love with her.

At british-gymnastics.org they proudly share, “Claudia is a strong all-around gymnast who excels on floor and vault. In 2014 Claudia made history winning four gold medals for Team England at the Commonwealth games including the all-around title.”

In terms of her persona it enhances her athletic prowess.

The informative global news source telegraph.co.uk smiles, “On meeting Fragapane, the first thing that strikes you about her is the sugary, almost contagious energy. It is an energy that fizzes in every double-back somersault, bounces in every breathless sentence, crackles out of every painted fingernail.”

The future prize is the 2016 Olympics in Rio where she hopes to grasp the gold.

The entertaining news source thesun.co.uk projects, “The tiny teenage gymnast, who cartwheeled into the nation’s hearts at the Commonwealth Games two years ago, will take to the floor in Rio this summer to the sound of Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag — after coach Helen Potter spotted it on the soundtrack of the hit film The History Boys.

And having then discovered a carnival style mix of the Pigbag 80s classic, Fragapane has been working with Latin ballroom champions Marosh and Kristana to get her into a strictly Brazilian mood. Fragapane, who is just 4ft 6ins, shot to fame in Glasgow when she won four artistic gymnastic Commonwealth golds as a 16 year-old.”

Claudia clearly has a strong following and a loyal community with high expectations.

Rightly so.

Thus, speaking about community, it’s time to travel to Claudia’s in Bristol, England.

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and county in South West England with an estimated population of 442,500 in 2015.

It is England’s sixth and the United Kingdom’s eighth most populous city, and the most populous city in Southern England after London.

Bristol was a starting place for early voyages of exploration to the New World. On a ship out of Bristol in 1497 John Cabot, a Venetian, became the first European since the Vikings to land on mainland North America.

Bristol’s modern economy is built on the creative media, electronics and aerospace industries.

If you are thinking of visiting, there is a tour guide dressed regally ready to show you the sights. The official regional site visitbristol.co.uk speaks with arms opened wide. “If ever there was a city with a story to tell, it’s Bristol. Enveloped in the hills of South West England, it has a distinctive identity that outrivals anywhere else. Grounded in roots from centuries past, passionate locals and spirited fans have helped carve out its character ever since.

It’s not hard to see why writers, film directors, artists, actors, scientists, musicians and architects have sought inspiration here.

Famed for its passionate character and its maritime history, and for the acres of parkland and sustainable approach that earned it European Green Capital status, Bristol has created its own distinctive identity.”

It’s always good to have people in high places in agreement. The global travel experts lonelyplanet.com shine, “If ever there was a British city on the rise, it’s Bristol. Once a center for heavy industry, over the last few decades the south-west’s largest city has reinvented itself as a hub of culture and creativity. From Clifton’s iconic suspension bridge to Brunel’s groundbreaking steamship, the SS Great Britain, it’s a city that’s awash with historical interest. But Bristol is also known for its offbeat, alternative character, and you’ll find a wealth of art collectives, community-run cafes and music venues dotted around the city’s streets – not to mention murals left behind by the city’s most notorious son, the mischievous street artist Banksy.”

No wonder Claudia is so exuberant, full of life, artsy energy and endless talent.

She comes from a great artistic place.

As far as the future, in speaking with The Sun, Claudia is extremely optimistic. She glows, “As you get older you realized how hard it is to get to the Olympics but that just drives me on. It’s strange to think that I will hopefully be in Rio in a few months’ time. It will be incredible to go there and compete at the Olympics. I’ve wanted to do it most of my life.”

She’s very confident.