Leeds Beckett lecturer at centre of Team GB Gymnastics triumph

Dr Lisa Gannon, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education, was one of two English-speaking announcers for Gymnastics at the games.

It meant she introduced Max Whitlock on the podium and during the victory ceremony in the Rio Olympic Arena, after he became Great Britain’s first ever gold medallist in the sport in the floor exercise. He then went on to make it a double triumph less than two hours later on the pommel horse.

Lisa, an ex-artistic gymnast who represented Wales and Great Britain herself, also commentated on the stunning performances of 19-year-old US superstar and multiple Olympic champion Simone Biles.

She said: “The Olympics is the pinnacle of Gymnastics. That’s the ultimate dream for any aspiring gymnast.

“To even be present at an Olympic games is a magical experience for anybody regardless of the role you are playing because you realise you’re at something special that means so much.”

Lisa has previously worked on sport presentation at London 2012, the World Championships and Commonwealth Games and commentated for the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) at the Rio test event back in April.

She wasn’t expecting to be going back there, though, until a last-minute call from the Head of Sports Presentation at the end of June asking her whether she’d be interested in being involved in the Olympics.

Lisa’s role in Rio was the culmination of a whirlwind summer after graduating from our University with her PhD in bone health the week before leaving for Brazil.

She admits having to battle to stay neutral in the midst of Team GB’s superb performances, including when Whitlock outperformed Japanese rivals Kenzō Shirai and Kōhei Uchimura to claim gold with his floor routine.

“I had to be very aware of that when I came to announce: ‘Gold medallist and Olympic champion representing Great Britain, Max Whitlock’.

“Usually we can see them. They are just a few metres away from us but we also use  a monitor to co-ordinate with OBS (The Olympic Broadcasting  Services).” 

“I usually  look at the timing on the monitor, but when Great Britain won a medal I just looked at the paper in front of me and listened to my director for cues because I thought I might become emotional.

“It was just such a privilege and a pleasure to be a small part of an amazing experience.”

Team GB delivered seven gymnastics medals in all, exceeding expectations and the four medals won in London.

Lisa said: “I’ve been helping at events for years in small leisure centres through to huge arenas.

“So I think the gymnasts all know that I have a genuine interest in their progress and want to see them do well.

Lisa said she was thrilled to have shared in that success, particularly in the case of Pudsey’s bronze medallist Nile Wilson whose family, dad Neil, mum Sally and sister Joanna, she knows well.

 “With Nile, once I’d finished my audio commentary I ran down to his family and was with them during the victory ceremony. He burst into tears when his sister shouted ‘we love you Nile’; it was such a proud moment.”

Welcome home @NileMW! #GreattobeBAck #VictoRIOus pic.twitter.com/otcM6CxmJU

— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 23, 2016

Lisa says she is now hoping to pass on her experience at the games to Leeds Beckett students.

She added: “When I was growing up it was always the Russians or Chinese but now actually people are saying how does Max Whitlock do that? How do the British do that? It’s a lot to do with our coaching and the support.

“I will certainly feed in a lot of my experiences and knowledge back into what I deliver to my students.

“Hopefully it will inspire the students, knowing  that their course is being delivered by somebody who’s been close to the games. I would like to think that it will add to their overall student experience.

“The summer period helps to recharge the batteries. If it’s not on a beach, how better to do it than at an Olympic games where you’ve just been so inspired by so many phenomenal performances?