An Olympian at 16, a world medallist at 17 - Abi Martin may only be 18 but the world is at her feet.

The Paignton gymnast was a somewhat surprise inclusion at the Paris Games in her first senior year but she proved her brilliance with a bronze medal on the floor at the World Championships last year.

She comes into this summer’s Commonwealth Games as one of the favourites, having claimed three golds and two silvers at the English Championships earlier this year, but still feels she could have achieved more.

She said: “I had a rough start to the year, but we've found what works best for me now.

“I struggled to find the confidence in myself, and if you don't have confidence in yourself, it's going to be hard to find a solid programme that you can train with.

“I've had a few niggles and I think coming back from Worlds, I found it quite hard to get back in the swing of things anyway.

“Sometimes I forget, when people ask what I do, to say I’m a world medallist as well as an Olympian. It still feels a bit insane. But I feel like it all happened quite fast. 

“I went into the final qualifying in one of the lower spots and went up second or fourth. I was watching, not expecting anything. I just wanted to enjoy it.”


Martin almost found herself on the Olympic podium, as the British team finished fourth in the all-around team final, but still scooped a silver medal at the European Championships in the same event.

But her confidence was knocked by a collision with the vault, the apparatus that the starlet enjoys the least across the programme.

“I was only 15 at the start of that year so I didn't really think [Paris] was going to happen,” said Martin, “then I got reserved for the Europeans and was pulled in Euros last minute, and the next minute I'm on an Olympic team. 

“I was so excited, but then the nerves started to kick in because I didn't really know the team that well because I was still fresh.

“I didn't really know the coaches. They were all really good, and the gymnasts were very supportive, but I was very nervous, which I think might be why I made the mistake running into the vault. But it's all a learning experience.”

Martin is hoping to retain Team England’s all-around team gold alongside Alia Leat, Taeja James, Ruby Stacey and Shantae-Eve Amankwaah.

None of them competed four years ago, and for her Commonwealth debut this summer, Martin is keeping her cards close to her chest.

She said: “I'm not going to say [my personal goals] but there are a few things that I'm aiming for. The main one for me would be a team medal. 

“I've struggled with the bars a lot in my career - sometimes they can be my least favourite, but I've worked so hard to improve them that I would never say it's my least favourite, because I've spent so much time and effort on it.”

It has been a good summer already for Martin, as she achieved a triple distinction in her Sports Coaching and Development BTEC. It could be about to get a whole lot better.

Joseph Saunders/Sportsbeat 2026