Commonwealth Medallists Emily and Abigail Roper Join The Hub Sport NextGen Sporting Champions Programme As Ambassadors

Games medallists Emily and Abigail Roper enjoyed a memorable and exciting visit to Halo, where the gymnastics twins were welcomed into the Halo Sports Performance Unit and introduced to the wider support network being delivered through Hub Sport.

The visit provided an opportunity for Emily and Abigail, accompanied by their mum Michelle, to spend valuable time with Halo owner Paul Hamilton and members of the Halo team. Alongside discussions about their sporting journeys and future ambitions, the twins were able to experience the environment at Halo, meet employees and have plenty of fun during their visit.

Paul spent several hours with Emily and Abigail, taking a genuine and personal interest in their experiences as elite athletes. His conversations with the twins focused not only on their remarkable Commonwealth Games achievements, but also on understanding the demands of elite gymnastics and the areas of support that can make a meaningful difference to their continued development and performance.

The visit also created a number of special moments. Members of the Halo team came together to welcome the twins, while one particularly memorable encounter saw a former gymnast, now part of the Halo team and a close friend of Emily and Abigail, share a photograph with them. It was a wonderful connection between an athlete’s past and present, and reflected the warm and inclusive sporting culture that Halo continues to build.

Emily and Abigail are proud Halo NextGen Sporting Champions athletes and ambassadors, supported by the Hub Sport team. Their achievements at the Commonwealth Games have established them as outstanding role models, while their personalities, enthusiasm and willingness to share their experiences make them inspirational figures for the next generation of young athletes.

Representing Team Wales, the twins contributed to an outstanding team performance, with Wales finishing fourth and narrowly missing out on a medal to England by the smallest of margins.

Individually, Emily qualified for the All-Around Final and produced a superb performance to finish seventh. Both twins also reached the Vault Final, with Abigail producing two outstanding vaults to secure a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, while Emily finished just outside the medals in fourth place.

Emily then produced another exceptional performance in the Bars Final, delivering what she described as the best bar routine of her life and securing a second Commonwealth Games bronze medal.

Their success demonstrates the extraordinary levels of commitment, discipline and preparation required to compete at international level. It also highlights why access to the right performance support can be so important as athletes progress through their careers.

As part of Halo’s sponsorship of the NextGen Sporting Champions programme, Emily and Abigail will now benefit from full sponsorship access to the Hub Sport Online programme.

The programme provides the twins with access to the Hub Sport BIG3, incorporating Strength & Conditioning, Sports Nutrition and Mental Skills, alongside wider sports science and physiology education.

Strength and conditioning play an important role in helping athletes develop the physical qualities required for high-level performance. For gymnasts, this can include strength, power, mobility, stability, coordination and physical resilience. A well-structured programme can also help athletes prepare their bodies for the demands of training and competition while supporting long-term athletic development.

Sports nutrition is another fundamental part of the performance picture. Athletes require appropriate knowledge around fuelling, hydration, recovery and nutritional preparation to support the demands placed on the body. Providing athletes with education in this area helps them understand how nutrition can contribute to training quality, recovery and sustained performance.

The mental side of sport is equally important. Mental Skills support can help athletes develop focus, confidence, resilience and emotional control, while providing strategies for managing pressure and maintaining performance when the competitive environment becomes demanding.

The Hub Sport Online programme also gives Emily and Abigail access to sports science and physiology education, helping them develop a greater understanding of their own bodies and how they respond to training, workload, recovery and competition.

This educational approach is an important part of the Hub Sport philosophy. The objective is not simply to provide athletes with information, but to give them greater understanding of the factors that influence performance and enable them to become more informed and independent athletes.

Emily and Abigail will also benefit from the Female Specific Support Programme, delivered by Ummu alongside Hub Sport team member Dr Saima Ajaz, who specialises in female athlete performance and injury prevention. The programme provides additional specialist insight into the physiological and performance considerations that are particularly relevant to female athletes.

Support will be available locally in Ipswich, as well as through Hub Sport’s partnership base at the Harley Street Longevity Club in London, providing the twins with access to a wider network of specialist expertise.

For Emily and Abigail, their relationship with Halo and Hub Sport represents much more than sponsorship. It provides access to a comprehensive performance ecosystem designed to support them both as athletes and individuals.

Halo’s commitment to the NextGen Sporting Champions programme continues to demonstrate the impact that meaningful investment in young and emerging athletes can have. By providing access to education, expertise, facilities and specialist support, the programme aims to remove barriers and create opportunities for talented athletes to fulfil their potential.

Emily and Abigail’s visit to Halo was therefore about more than celebrating two Commonwealth Games medallists. It was the beginning of another important chapter in their sporting journeys, one built around continued learning, development, performance and opportunity.

Hub Sport and Halo look forward to supporting the twins as they continue to inspire the next generation and pursue their ambitions at the highest level of gymnastics.

The Hub training, support and education is delivered from multiple sites, by The Hub team of experts.