Olympian Ruby Evans admits she has struggled to adapt following the retirement of long-time coach and mentor Tracey Skirton-Davies.
Ruby Evans admits the retirement of her long-time coach and mentor has left her in tears as she prepares for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
The 18-year-old became an Olympian and double European silver medallist under the guidance of Welsh national coach Tracey Skirton-Davies.
But the coach's decision to step away from the sport in September after more than 20 years in the role has left Evans devastated at losing her "second mum".
"It has had a big impact. I'm not an emotional person but I have just been crying all the time," said Evans.
"The coaches in British (Gymnastics) are really good and have been really supportive but I want my coach back because no-one really understands you as much as your own personal coach.
"Her family were kind of like my second family to me, so it has been really hard. I've had a few mental breakdowns, so it has been difficult."
It has hardly been the ideal preparation for her second World Championships, which begin on Sunday in Jakarta.
She has recovered from ligament injuries in both ankles at the start of the year before the change of coach while also getting over the disappointment of finishing seventh at the Olympics last year.
"I'm hoping I got all my falls out in Paris, so it doesn't happen in the Worlds," she said.
"I did a PB (personal best) on floor in qualification but I had a silly slip off the bar. I still don't know what happened.
"Then a fell times on the beam. I got my dismount back out, which was good, but it was just a hard competition in general.
"I forget about it, it's probably not the best thing, but I just think, oh well, that's done now. I'm not going to think about my falls going into Worlds because I've done so many more routines since then."
"The Worlds are one of the best competitions, so I'm really happy to be selected."
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Her selection has also brought a new role for Evans in the Great Britain team with so many younger athletes breaking into the squad.
"In past years I've been the baby of all the teams and I've had to step up and be the oldest in the younger category," she said.
"We don't really see it as I'm the leader, I'm just the most experienced in the team.
"I can't tell if I love or hate it. It's been hard to step up and have the pressure of making sure everyone's doing everything. I'm just getting used to it."
Evans may no longer be the baby of the squad but having become the first Welsh female gymnast to appear at the Olympics since 1996, she is still targeting the next games at Los Angeles in 2028.
However she has one more item to tick on her bucket list, wearing the red of Wales at next year's Commonwealth Games.
She said: "I've always wanted to do that so it would be special. I love Wales, it's home."
Category: General Sports
