Gymnast Ewan McAteer overcomes injury challenges to seal Commonwealth Games place with Team NI
Gymnast Ewan McAteer has overcome serious injury to make the Team NI squad for a third consecutive Commonwealth Games.
The vault specialist competed at the Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham four years ago when he achieved a sixth-place finish.
“I can't believe it was four years ago, it really doesn't seem that much,” he said. “Although when I do look back at those four years as well and I look at how much I've been through.
"I've torn my Achilles, the time has flown yet it's not; it's really exciting to see games come around again and I'm looking forward to getting the third one done.”
McAteer explained the rigours of performing on the international stage.
“Gymnastics is unfortunately a brutal sport, it's so much force on your body. We train so much and it's in such extreme positions that it is just constant repetition so yeah, we are open to injuries and all of us have had our struggles, but we've all battled through and I think we've all put ourselves in really great positions to be fit and ready.
“Vaulting puts a lot of strain on the Achilles. I've had to be very smart as well with what I do.
"I would always say I'm an all-round gymnast, taking part in all six [disciplines], but I have had to take a step back from the floor, purely because vault is the focus. I can do the floor, but when you add all six pieces of workload together, it is a serious amount of volume.
“So prioritising Commonwealth Games, I've kind of sacrificed other competitions like Europeans and things, and I'm just focusing on going at Commonwealth. My Achilles in a good position, but I want to make sure it stays that way.”
McAteer is a dentist and has to juggle the day job with training to compete on the international stage.
He added: “When I worked full-time, it was really tough balancing the two. My days were like half eight to five in surgery, half five to nine in gym every day.
“I'm in a really lucky position now where I'm working part-time, and it is the perfect balance for me to be able to get all my training done full-time, but still kind of do the dentistry.
“I really like having the two, they're a really nice balance. They kind of give me separation from each other, so, yeah, I'm in a really nice position with the two at the minute.”
McAteer is hoping it’s third time lucky in Glasgow and can come away with a medal.
“I would describe my performances in both Gold Coast and Birmingham as immensely proud of them, but I'm not satisfied. I did want more from that competition,” he said.
“Looking back, I gave it everything I could have given it. I have no regrets, but yeah, absolutely, Glasgow, the medal is the main focus, I am fully locked in for making that happen.”