'I'd never watched the Olympics' - Evans on gymnastics fame

Ruby Evans, a gymnast from Britain, has made a significant impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the age of 17, she catapulted into the spotlight, winning a Commonwealth gold medal and amassing a massive following on social media. Ruby, who had never watched an Olympics before, expressed surprise at her newfound popularity, stating that she hadn't anticipated such a large reaction to her performances.

Despite her sudden fame, Evans remains grounded and focused on her gymnastics career. She admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the level of attention she received after her Olympic debut, mentioning that her phone would not turn on due to the sheer volume of messages. However, Ruby quickly turned her disappointment into motivation, using her anger to fuel her determination.

The Welsh gymnast faced adversity in the 2021 Commonwealth Games, finishing sixth in the individual all-around competition. However, she bounced back to win Wales' first gold medal at the Glasgow Games in the floor final. Ruby credits her resilience and positive mindset for her success, refusing to let negative comments from online trolls affect her. She believes that those who cannot contribute positively will only succeed in provoking her further.

Looking ahead, Ruby aims to build on her recent achievements at the 2025 World Championships and the 2024 Commonwealth Games. She is determined to make more progress at the upcoming European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, which will be broadcast live on the BBC. While she has not set her sights on the 2028 LA Olympics just yet, Ruby remains optimistic about her future prospects in gymnastics.