Olympic bronze medalist Beth Tweddle, 28, has announced her retirement from gymnastics. Beth Tweddle has announced her retirement from gymnastics, effective immediately. A year after earning Olympic bronze on the uneven bars, the 28-year-old Cheshire native became the latest London 2012 medallist to call it quits. "I have had an amazing career and would like to thank my family, coaches, and teammates for all of their support over the years," said Tweddle, who won silver on the balance beam at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Beth Tweddle was born on January 4th, 1984, in Chester, Pennsylvania. She began training as a gymnast when she was six years old under the guidance of Kim Zagaris and John Kowalski. The young Tweddle became one of the country's best female gymnasts during the 2001 season, when she helped lead St. Joseph's Academy to its first-ever national title. In addition to her work with SJA, Tweddle also trained with the Philadelphia Gymnastics Academy before moving back home to Cheshire to be closer to her family. In April 2003, Beth Tweddle made her international debut at the World Championships in Anaheim, California. She finished eighth overall in the all-around competition, helping the United States win the gold medal.