Imogen Cairns

{{short description|British former artistic gymnast|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox gymnast

| name = Imogen Cairns

| image = File:XIX Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi Winners of Women’s Gymnastics Vault progress, Cairns Imogen of England (Gold).jpg

| full_name = Imogen Jayne Cairns

| nickname =

| country = {{GBR2}}
{{ENG}}

| formercountry =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1989|1|26}}

| birth_place = Southmead, Bristol, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 156 cm

| discipline = WAG

| natlteam =

| club = The Academy

| gym =

| collegeteam =

| headcoach = Liz Kincaid

| assistcoach =

| formercoach =

| choreographer = Valorie Kondos Field

| music = Alone by Delirium (2008–2011), Pulmon by Bajofondo (2012)

| worldranking = Vault 12 (2011)

| eponymousskills =

| retired = October 2012

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Country | {{ENG}} }}

| image_size = 200

| caption = Cairns at the 2010 Commonwealth Games

}}

Imogen Jayne Cairns (born 26 January 1989) is a British former artistic gymnast who competed at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/athletes/3705 |title=Athletes :: Show |publisher=Fig.lx2.sportcentric.com |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529093605/http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/athletes/3705 |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=dead}} Representing England, Cairns was a three-time Commonwealth Games champion in vault, twice, and in floor exercise.

Senior career

= 2006 =

In March, Cairns competed for England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. She contributed an all-around score of 54.800 towards the English team's second-place finish{{cite web |url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule%20and%20Results/By%20Sport/Gymnastics%20Artistic/Results/Result%20-%20GA10001XXXXXXX?ScheduleItemID=29649 |title=M2006 > Schedule and Results > Gymnastics Artistic |publisher=Melbourne2006.com.au |date=26 March 2006 |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819193406/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule%20and%20Results/By%20Sport/Gymnastics%20Artistic/Results/Result%20-%20GA10001XXXXXXX?ScheduleItemID=29649 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} and won the vault final with a score of 14.325.{{cite web |url=http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule%20and%20Results/By%20Sport/Gymnastics%20Artistic/Results/Result%20-%20GA10013XXXXXXX?ScheduleItemID=29640 |title=M2006 > Schedule and Results > Gymnastics Artistic |publisher=Melbourne2006.com.au |date=26 March 2006 |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819193237/http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule%20and%20Results/By%20Sport/Gymnastics%20Artistic/Results/Result%20-%20GA10013XXXXXXX?ScheduleItemID=29640 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |url-status=dead}} The next month, she competed at the European Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Volos, Greece. The British team placed seventh, and Cairns placed eighth on vault with a score of 13.850.{{cite web |url=http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2006/e2006w.html#aa |title=2006 European artistic gymnastics Championships Volos, Greece |publisher=Gymnasticsresults.com |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822104841/http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2006/e2006w.html#aa |archive-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}

At the British Championships in Guildford, England, in July, Cairns placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 54.900. In event finals, she placed second on vault, scoring 13.450; third on uneven bars, scoring 13.500; fourth on balance beam, scoring 14.100; and second on floor exercise, scoring 14.250.{{cite web |url=http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2006/gbr2006w.html |title=2006 British Women's Artistic Gymnastics Championships Guildford |publisher=Gymnasticsresults.com |date=9 July 2006 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623184404/http://gymnasticsresults.com/2006/gbr2006w.html |archive-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}

In November, Cairns placed fifth on vault at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Glasgow with a score of 14.012.{{cite web |url=http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/events/1242 |title=Events :: Show |publisher=Fig.lx2.sportcentric.com |date=12 November 2006 |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312104926/http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/events/1242 |archive-date=12 March 2012 |df=dmy-all}} In December, she placed seventh on vault, scoring 14.037, at the World Cup event in São Paulo, Brazil.{{cite web |url=http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/events/1527 |title=Events :: Show |publisher=Fig.lx2.sportcentric.com |date=17 December 2006 |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527170149/http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/events/1527 |archive-date=27 May 2012 |df=dmy-all}}

= 2007 =

Cairns broke her wrist in April 2007 and was in a cast for twelve weeks. After recovering from that injury, she broke her ankle. Her coach, Liz Kincaid, said, "Imogen was vaulting with a wrist support on and noticed during her hurdle step that the support had come undone. She tried to pull up and crashed into the vault and broke her ankle." These injuries caused Cairns to miss the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=342&catid=2:news&Itemid=53 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Timing is Everything to British Olympic Contender Cairns |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

= 2008 =

In April, Cairns placed fifth on vault at the World Cup event in Maribor, Slovenia, with a score of 13.775.{{cite web |url=http://fig.lx2.sportcentric.com/events/1926 |title=Events :: Show |publisher=Fig.lx2.sportcentric.com |date=27 April 2008 |access-date=25 June 2012}} After the event, she said, "I know internationally most people thought I had retired. Sorry, got me for a little while longer! Even in Great Britain, people thought I had finished. I find it hilarious."

At the British Championships in Guildford in June, Cairns placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 55.650. In event finals, she placed first on vault, scoring 14.200; second on balance beam, scoring 14.900; and first on floor, scoring 14.550.{{cite web |url=http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2008/gbrch2008w.html |title=2008 British Women's Championships |publisher=Gymnasticsresults.com |date=29 June 2008 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=23 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623184235/http://gymnasticsresults.com/2008/gbrch2008w.html |url-status=dead }} She was named as an alternate for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and made the team after Laura Jones was injured.{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=452:cairns-on-british-olympic-team&catid=18:olympic-news&Itemid=142 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Cairns on British Olympic Team |date=17 July 2008 |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |access-date=26 June 2012}}

== Beijing Olympics ==

Having stepped in to replace Jones, Cairns competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing alongside teammates Becky Downie, Marissa King, Beth Tweddle, Hannah Whelan, and Rebecca Wing.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics/gymnastics/7480366.stm |title=Tweddle and Downie lead GB team |date=2008-06-29 |newspaper=BBC |access-date=2016-08-23}} She helped the British team finish in ninth place and finished 33rd in the individual all-around with a score of 57.050.{{Cite web|url=http://www.figbeijing2008.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0%2C11040%2C5195-191244-208467-139136-0-file%2C00.pdf|title=Gymnastics Artistic Womens Qualification : Intermediate Results |date=10 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728081331/http://www.figbeijing2008.sportcentric.com/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0%2C11040%2C5195-191244-208467-139136-0-file%2C00.pdf|access-date=9 November 2021|archive-date=28 July 2013}}

After the Olympics, Cairns injured both her ankles while practising on vault. She said, "I rolled both my ankles—the bones weren't snapped, but everything else was. I was out for at least eighteen months with that injury. I had drilling of the bone, two operations on each ankle, and I couldn't walk properly for six months. Ever since, they've been good, but they will never be great. Every now and then they are too painful and I can't train. I have to have injections to numb my ankles, and I've been told I'll have arthritis in them by the time I'm 30."{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/236196/Going-going-groin-with-star-Imogen-Cairns |title=Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Other Sport :: Going, going groin – with star Imogen Cairns |publisher=Express.co.uk |date=23 March 2011 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

= 2009 =

Cairns decided to return to training in 2009. She said, "I thought about quitting because I was out for so long. I put on a bit of weight and got my social life back and I thought, 'This is it.' But when your whole life has been gymnastics, you do miss it. I thought, 'I have nothing to lose if I try to come back.' It was just pure determination. I wanted to do it."

= 2010 =

At the British Championships in Guildford in July, Cairns placed fifth in the all-around with a score of 54.550.{{cite web |url=http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2010/europe/gbr/gbrchampwagsenaa.html |title=2010 Women's Artistic Gymnastics British Championships Guildford (GBR) |publisher=Gymnasticsresults.com |date=3 July 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=23 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623184305/http://gymnasticsresults.com/2010/europe/gbr/gbrchampwagsenaa.html |url-status=dead }} She won the vault final, scoring 14.000, and placed fourth on balance beam (13.200) and floor (13.650).{{cite web |url=http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/2010/europe/gbr/gbrchampwagsenef.html |title=2010 Women's Artistic Gymnastics British Championships. Guildford (GBR) |publisher=Gymnasticsresults.com |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=23 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623184311/http://gymnasticsresults.com/2010/europe/gbr/gbrchampwagsenef.html |url-status=dead }} She said about her return to gymnastics, "I thought that getting to the Olympics in 2008 would satisfy me, but having battled through injury, I just have something inside me that tells me I have much more to give. Having been through the highs of the Olympics and lows of injury, I can honestly say I now take things step by step. I learn from successes and setbacks, and put these to good use. I think I've matured, and I set myself personal goals."{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1892:injury-gives-new-motivation-to-cairns&catid=2:news&Itemid=53 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Injury Gives New Motivation to Cairns |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=7 September 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

At the beginning of October, Cairns competed for England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. She contributed an all-around score of 53.500 towards the English team's second-place finish.{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1954:aussie-a-team-wins-commonwealth-games&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Aussie 'A-Team' Wins Commonwealth Games |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=5 October 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}} In the all-around final, she placed fourth with a score of 54.650. "One year ago, I didn't think I'd be able to train again," she said. "I think I was only just getting back to walking. Gymnastics just wasn't in the equation until my surgeon said that anything I did to my feet couldn't make them worse—so I decided to go for it again."{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1971:mitchell-ties-record-as-games-end&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Mitchell Ties Record as Games End in Delhi |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=8 October 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}} In event finals, Cairns placed first on vault, scoring 13.775; eighth on balance beam, scoring 11.950; and first on floor, scoring 14.200.{{cite web |url=http://d2010results.thecgf.com/en/Comp.mvc/DetailedScheduleByDate?sportCode=GA&expandAll=False |title=Info System |publisher=D2010results.thecgf.com |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405031659/http://d2010results.thecgf.com/en/Comp.mvc/DetailedScheduleByDate?sportCode=GA&expandAll=False |url-status=dead }} After the vault final, she said, "The gold today perhaps means more this time around, having been injured in both feet after the Beijing Olympics and being off for 15 months."{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1963:australia-takes-four-more-golds-in-delhi&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Australia Takes Four More Golds in Delhi |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

Later in October, Cairns competed at the 2010 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam. She contributed a vault score of 14.633, a balance beam score of 11.833, and a floor score of 14.033 towards the British team's seventh-place finish,{{Cite web |url=http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/worlds/2010/wag/teamsfinal.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222103/http://www.gymnasticsresults.com/worlds/2010/wag/teamsfinal.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} and placed eighth in the vault final with a score of 13.999.{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2067:british-best-in-day-1-of-event-finals&catid=84:worlds-news&Itemid=210 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – British Gymnasts Best in Day 1 of Event Finals |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=23 October 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

In November, Cairns won the vault final at the World Cup event in Stuttgart, Germany, with a score of 13.937,{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2127:mitchell-dominates-dtb-cup-with-three-golds&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Mitchell Dominates DTB Cup with Three Golds |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=13 November 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}} and placed second on vault at the World Cup event in Glasgow with a score of 13.875.{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2151:world-cup-season-concludes-in-glasgow&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – World Cup Season Concludes in Glasgow |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=20 November 2010 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

= 2011 =

At the British Teams competition in Guildford in May, Cairns contributed scores of 12.900 on vault, 11.650 on balance beam, and 12.500 on floor toward The Academy's fifth-place finish.{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2566:whelan-tweddle-lead-liverpool-to-victory&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Whelan, Tweddle Lead Liverpool to Victory |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=26 June 2012}} In July, she competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, placing first on vault (13.925) and third on balance beam (13.450).{{cite web |url=http://www.intlgymnast.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2640:liverpool-dominates-british-championships-at-home&catid=5:competition-reports&Itemid=221 |title=International Gymnast Magazine Online – Host Liverpool Dominates British Championships |publisher=Intlgymnast.com |date=10 July 2011 |access-date=26 June 2012}}

At the 2011 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo in October, she contributed a vault score of 14.133 and a floor score of 13.700 towards the British team's fifth-place finish.{{cite web |url=http://www.fedintgym.com/microsites/11Tokyo/Results/PDF/C73F_ResultsTeamDet_GA%20Women%20Senior_Concours%20IV.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425061813/http://www.fedintgym.com/microsites/11Tokyo/Results/PDF/C73F_ResultsTeamDet_GA%20Women%20Senior_Concours%20IV.pdf |archive-date=25 April 2012}}

= 2012 =

In May, Cairns was set to compete at the 2012 European Championships but was replaced with teammate Ruby Harrold to allow Cairns more time to recuperate from minor injuries.{{cite web |url=http://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2516:2012-wag-europeans-team-announcement&catid=51:womens-artistic&Itemid=83 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425203043/http://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2516:2012-wag-europeans-team-announcement&catid=51:womens-artistic&Itemid=83 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 April 2012 |title=2012 WAG Europeans – Team announcement |publisher=British-gymnastics.org |access-date=25 June 2012 }}

At the beginning of June, Cairns competed with gymnasts from Finland and Spain at a friendly meet in Ipswich, which also served as the second British Olympic trial. She placed fifth in the all-around with a score of 54.350{{Cite web |url=http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7236/Results_-_All_Around_Competiton.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=5 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605200327/http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7236/Results_-_All_Around_Competiton.pdf |url-status=dead }} and third on floor with a score of 13.500.{{Cite web |url=http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7236/Results_-_Floor_Final.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 June 2012 |archive-date=5 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605221226/http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7236/Results_-_Floor_Final.pdf |url-status=dead }} Later that month, she competed at the British Championships in Liverpool, the third and final Olympic trial. She placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 55.500.{{Cite web |url=http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Seniors_All-Around.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627213737/https://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Seniors_All-Around.pdf |url-status=dead }} In event finals, she placed seventh on balance beam, scoring 12.450,{{Cite web |url=http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Beam_Final.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627074938/http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Beam_Final.pdf |url-status=dead }} and second on floor, scoring 14.100.{{Cite web |url=http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Floor_Final.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=25 June 2012 |archive-date=27 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627074955/http://www.british-gymnastics.org/results/7170/Results_-_WAG_Senior_Floor_Final.pdf |url-status=dead }}

At the beginning of July, Cairns was selected to represent the United Kingdom at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, along with Tweddle, Whelan, Jennifer Pinches and Rebecca Tunney.{{Cite web |url=https://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2682:eighteen-gymnasts-selected-to-team-gb-for-london-2012-olympics&catid=1:news&Itemid=97 |access-date=3 November 2021 |title=Archived copy |archive-date=3 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103003907/https://www.british-gymnastics.org/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2682:eighteen-gymnasts-selected-to-team-gb-for-london-2012-olympics&catid=1:news&Itemid=97 |url-status=dead }}

== London Olympics ==

At the Olympics, Cairns contributed scores of 14.266 on vault and 13.500 on balance beam towards the British team's sixth-place finish. Cairns retired from elite gymnastics soon after the 2012 Olympics.{{cite web |url=http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/wag_team_f.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221409/http://www.fig-docs.com/microsites/london12/results/files/res/wag/wag_team_f.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2013}}