# Ruby Evans

Ruby Grace Evans (born 17 March 2007) is a Welsh artistic gymnast and a member of the British national team. She was part of the silver-medal winning team at the 2024 European Championships and is a five-time Northern European champion. She represented Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

## Early life

Evans was born in Cardiff in 2007. She began training in gymnastics when she was four years old.

## Junior gymnastics career
### 2019–21

Evans competed at her first Welsh Championships in 2019, placing third in the all-around in the espoir division. The following month she competed at the British Championships where she placed seventh in the all-around and second on floor exercise.
Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic most competitions were canceled or postponed in 2020. Evans competed at Elite Gym Massilia in late 2021 where she placed thirteenth in the all-around and seventh on vault. She next competed at the 2021 British Championships where she won the all-around in the junior division.

### 2022

Early in the year Evans competed at the Welsh and British Championships, winning the junior division of both. In July she competed at the European Youth Olympic Festival where she helped Great Britain finish sixth. Individually she won silver on vault behind Helen Kevric. The following month Evans competed at the European Championships where she helped Great Britain finish fourth. Individually she placed thirteenth in the all-around and fourth on floor exercise.
In November Evans competed at the Northern European Championships. She helped Wales finish first as a team. Individually she won gold on vault. Evans ended the year competing at the Top Gym Tournament where she placed second in the all-around.

## Senior gymnastics career
### 2023

Evans turned age-eligible for senior competition in 2023. She made her senior debut for Great Britain at the Cottbus World Cup where she won silver on vault behind Manila Esposito and bronze on floor exercise behind Azuki Kokofugata and Esposito. At the Welsh Championships Evans placed second behind Poppy-Grace Stickler. At the British Championships she placed fifth in the all-around but won gold on vault.
In September Evans was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2023 World Championships alongside Jessica Gadirova, Alice Kinsella, Ondine Achampong, and Georgia-Mae Fenton. In being selected Evans became the first Welsh gymnast in 17 years to be named to compete for Great Britain at the World Championships. The last Welsh gymnasts to do so were Olivia Bryl and Lynette Lisle in 2006. While at the World Championships Evans helped the team qualify in second to the team final. During the team final she contributed scores on vault and floor exercise towards Great Britain's sixth-place finish.
Evans finished the year competing at the Northern European Championships. She helped Wales win the team competition and individually won gold in the all-around and on floor exercise.

### 2024

Evans started her year at the Welsh Championships, placing first the in all-around, on the vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise. She competed as a guest at English Championships, placing first on floor exercise and second on balance beam. At British Championships she placed second in the all-around. Evans was named to the European Championships team, alongside Ondine Achampong (later replaced by Abigail Martin), Alice Kinsella, Becky Downie, and Georgia-Mae Fenton. While there she helped the team win silver behind Italy.
In June Evans was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Olympics alongside Downie, Kinsella, Fenton, and Martin. Evans became the first Welsh female gymnast to be selected for the British Olympic team since Sonia Lawrence who competed at the 1996 Olympic Games. During qualifications at the Olympic Games, Evans helped Great Britain qualify to the team final. During the team final Evans contributed scores on vault and floor exercise towards Great Britains fourth place finish.

## Competitive history

| Year | Event | Team | AA | VT | BB | FX |
| Espoir ||||||||
| 2019 | Welsh Championships | | | | | |
| 2019 | British Championships | | 7 | | | |
| Junior ||||||||
| 2021 | Elite Gym Massilia | 5 | 13 | 7 | | |
| 2021 | British Championships | | | | | |
| 2022 | Welsh Championships | | | | | |
| 2022 | British Championships | | | | 6 | 6 |
| 2022 | International GymSport | | | | | |
| 2022 | European Youth Olympic Festival | 6 | | | | |
| 2022 | European Championships | 4 | 13 | | | 4 |
| 2022 | Northern European Championships | | | | | |
| 2022 | Top Gym Tournament | | | | | |
| Senior ||||||||
| 2023 | Cottbus World Cup | | | | 6 | |
| 2023 | Welsh Championships | | | | | |
| 2023 | British Championships | | 5 | | | 5 |
| 2023 | World Championships | 6 | | | | |
| 2023 | Northern European Championships | | | | | |
| 2024 | Welsh Championships | | | | 4 | |
| 2024 | English Championships (guest) | | | | | |
| 2024 | British Championships | | | | | |
| 2024 | Doha World Cup | | | | | |
| 2024 | European Championships | | | | | |
| 2024 | Varna Challenge Cup | | | | | |
| 2024 | Olympic Games | 4 | | | | |
| 2024 | Rushmoor Rose Bowl | | | | | |