Tumble Talk

At just 18, Halle Hilton had already worn two national leotards, stood on multiple podiums in European competitions, and carved out a space for herself in the elite world . After rising through the British system and medaling on the international stage as a junior, she made a bold switch in 2022 — choosing to represent Ireland, the country of her mother’s birth. Now 21 and with LA 2028 firmly in her sights, Halle talks identity, pressure, rebuilding, resilience, and why the move to Team Ireland might just be the best decision she’s ever made.

Let’s start at the beginning — when did you first fall in love with gymnastics, and what drew you to the sport?
I first fell in love with gymnastics actually by watching my brother train! I was always on the go, trying to do stuff on the balcony while watching him. Then my parents put me into the teddy bear classes at 2 years old, and I went into the squad side at 4 years old. I was always quite willing to try things in gymnastics and wasn’t scared of too much!

Can you tell us a bit about your early gymnastics journey in the UK — what were some standout moments or lessons from your time there?
Some of my early memories from gymnastics in the UK were great. I remember when I first got into the GB squad at around eight or nine years old, and I got to go on a trip with the squad to Italy for ten days when I was ten. That was such a good experience for me, being so young and having to go away by myself. I learned a lot on that trip at such a young age.
I also remember being selected for the Junior Youth Olympic Games in Baku, where my team and I won a bronze medal. We had been working hard at Lilleshall [the national training centre for the British team] for a long time before that, so for the work to finally pay off was very rewarding.
I was also selected for the Junior Europeans in Glasgow, which was amazing, and I helped the team win a bronze medal there too.
It was an honour to represent GB for many years and gain so much experience from so many competitions.

In 2022, you made the decision to represent Ireland internationally. What inspired that change, and how did the transition come about?
My mum is actually Irish, so that makes me half Irish, and over the past few years before I made the transition, it was always something my team around me and I had spoken about. It was always a great option and opportunity for me.
We thought long and hard about it and realised it was the best choice for me, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve gained so much experience and had many opportunities with Ireland, and I’m so grateful for that.
The journey I’ve been on with Ireland since 2022 has been amazing, and they have supported me through everything.
For me, the transition was probably the best thing that happened in my gymnastics career at that time.

What was it like adapting to a new national programme and training environment — did it feel like starting over or more like a continuation of your existing path?
I was really nervous because it almost felt like I was turning over a brand-new page! I remember travelling over for my first squad/prep camp before Europeans in 2022. I was about to spend a week in Ireland for the first time with new teammates.
The first day I was really nervous, but after training with everyone and getting to know people, I was absolutely fine — everyone made me feel so welcome!
Now the teammates I have are friends for life. I absolutely love being part of the Irish team, and I’m so grateful that everyone was so welcoming to me.

Every system has its challenges — have you faced any frustrations or obstacles since joining the Irish programme, whether in training, funding, or competition opportunities?
I haven’t personally found anything apart from my own training obstacles like injuries and setbacks.

Ireland didn’t send a team to Northern Europeans, or any gymnasts to Worlds this year. What was the reason given to the gymnasts for this?
We are currently on a four-year plan for this cycle, and this is year one, which means we can focus on getting our bodies fit and healthy, ready to go again for three years of hard work.
Northern Europeans was the same weekend as the Irish Championships, so we were unable to attend that.

How do you think gymnastics in Ireland is developing right now, and what role do you hope to play in that growth?
I think gymnastics in Ireland has really come a long way! I’ve seen some great gymnasts in the past compete for Ireland, which inspires me to do what I’m doing. We also have an Olympic champion in our men’s team [pommel horse champion Rhys McClenaghan], which is so inspiring.
I hope I can help Team Ireland with my gymnastics in the future and be a role model to other Irish gymnasts coming through!

Looking back, what has been your proudest moment so far — and what are you still chasing?
I think making the whole transition to Ireland makes me proud because I’ve achieved so much since doing that and gained so much experience.
I’m also very proud of being part of the British team when we won the Junior Europeans bronze medal and the European Youth Olympic Games bronze medal.
My goals for next year are the Europeans and the World Championships. My goal for this cycle is to qualify for the LA Olympic Games in 2028.

Gymnastics can be such a mentally demanding sport. How do you stay motivated and handle the pressure that comes with elite competition?
I think communication is key. Without it, you can get so lost in everything that’s going on, and then everything becomes very difficult to handle alone.
Gymnastics is such a tough sport — you have to love it to be able to get the most out of it. Some days are tough, and getting through them is so hard, but also so worth it.
Sometimes you can’t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep working and grafting and remembering your goals and dreams, you will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel — and it will all be so worth it.

Finally, what’s next for you?
My short-term goal is getting fit and ready for my European trials, which will be held in May 2026.
My long-term goal is qualifying for the LA Olympic Games in 2028. The qualification for that for me will be at the World Championships in 2027.
My dream since I was a little girl was to compete at the Olympics one day. I unfortunately just missed out on Paris 2024 by 0.002, so that makes me even more determined to put everything into these next four years.