An 8-year-old Isle of Wight gymnast has been crowned All-Around Champion at the Classic Challenge Championships, just 7 months after moving her training to the mainland.
Paisley, who now trains at Portsmouth Gymnastics Club, delivered a strong performance across all 4 apparatus to secure the overall title.
She finished 1st on bars, 2nd on beam, 2nd on vault and 3rd on floor, with her combined scores enough to see her take 1st place overall and be crowned the 2026 Classic Challenge All-Around Champion.
The achievement follows a significant change for the youngster earlier this year, when she moved from an Isle of Wight gymnastics club to Portsmouth to continue her development in the sport.
Since then, Paisley has balanced school with travelling across the Solent 3 times a week for training – involving regular ferry crossings, hours in the gym and late nights before returning to school the following morning.
Her family have said:
“The last 7 months have had their highs and lows. Moving clubs was a massive change for Paisley, but she has worked incredibly hard to prove what she is capable of.
Article continues below this advertisement “She has dedicated so much to gymnastics at only 8 years old. She goes to school and then travels to the mainland 3 times a week to train, often getting home late at night.
“There have been exhausted days and difficult moments, but she continues to show up because she absolutely loves the sport.
“When they announced her as the All-Around Champion, it was a moment we’ll never forget. We couldn’t have been prouder.”
Paisley’s success has given her further determination to progress in the sport, but regularly training on the mainland comes with a significant financial commitment for her family.
They are now hoping to hear from Isle of Wight businesses and organisations interested in sponsoring the youngster, with support helping towards the costs of training, competing and travelling to Portsmouth 3 times a week.
Alongside ferry and transport costs, the family also faces training fees, competition fees, gymnastics kit and other expenses associated with competitive gymnastics.
Her family have added:
“We will do everything we possibly can to allow Paisley to continue doing what she loves, but the cost of travelling to the mainland several times every week is substantial.
“We would love to find a local business or businesses willing to support her through sponsorship and help make this journey sustainable.
“Paisley is prepared to put the hard work in. We just want to make sure that living on the Isle of Wight doesn’t become the reason she can’t see how far that hard work could take her.”
Businesses or organisations interested in discussing sponsorship or supporting Paisley’s gymnastics journey can contact her family at [email protected].
