We are delighted that Jade has joined our BRIT Ambassador family and is championing the BRIT Challenge to support and improve young adult and student mental health and fitness throughout the UK.
Jade represented Great Britain for almost fifteen years at international competitions including the European Championships, World Championships and the 2012 Olympic Games. Jade is also a former British Gold medallist. In 2018, Jade represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games after changing nation representation. She is currently working for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“As a former student at the University of Plymouth and the University of Southampton, and having spent 18 years competing and training with young elite gymnasts, I know that we must do more to support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of students and elite athletes in order to avoid them facing long-term mental health difficulties.
The pandemic has affected all our lives, however it has had a disproportionate impact on particular groups in society, especially those on a low income, people with an existing mental health condition; children and young adults and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. It's clear that this is a critical time for student mental health and I am encouraged that BRIT are determined to support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK by delivering their annual BRIT Challenge.
The annual BRIT Challenge is a feelgood February fundraiser for every university, college, specialist college and Students’ Union to enter teams and encourage student and staff participation. I’m thrilled that the BRIT Challenge is inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part and work as a team to cover the 2,022 mile distance by either hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding).
I am honoured to be part of the BRIT Ambassador family to promote the BRIT Challenge, destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion. I urge my fellow elite gymnasts, and athletes from all sports, to join our BRIT Ambassador family and assist in encouraging universities, colleges and students to take part in the annual BRIT Challenge. I would be delighted to support and encourage students and staff at the University of Plymouth as they take on their BRIT Challenge”.
Jade Faulkner
Olympian and Great Britain and Nigerian Gymnast
Jade graduated from the University of Plymouth in 2017, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. In 2018, Jade graduated from the University of Southampton with a Master of Science degree in Athletic Development.
Jade has been an International Rhythmic Gymnast since 2005. She represented Great Britain for almost fifteen years at international competitions including the European Championships, World Championships and the 2012 Olympic Games. She made history in 2012 as part of the first British team to compete in rhythmic gymnastics at an Olympics. Jade is also a former British Gold medallist.
In 2018, Jade represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games after changing nation representation.
Jade qualified as a Level 1 Gymnastics Coach in 2014.
Between 2018 and 2021, Jade was a Gymnastics Instructor with Olympic Stars in Doha, Qatar, where she coached gymnasts between the ages of 2 and 15 from beginner to international level.
Jade has also been a Fitness Instructor since 2021, helping clients to achieve their goals; specifically with flexibility, mobility, gymnastics and body balance.
In 2022, Jade moved to Birmingham to take on a new role working with the Commonwealth Games.
To find out more about British Gymnastics, please visit their website.
You can follow Jade on Instagram.
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