Creative England athletes turn to nature to keep fit during lockdown ahead of Birmingham Commonwealth Games

ENGLAND’S leading stars have found ingenious ways to keep fit during lockdown.

SunSport’s exclusive set of photos show how some have adapted their training routines following the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Gymnast Courtney Tulloch, para-swimmer Alice Tai and basketball player Dominique Allen have gone out of their comfort zone in recent months.

The trio are set to be important members of Team England at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which start on July 28, 2022.

Tulloch, 24, said: “Gymnastics is a really difficult, if not virtually impossible, sport to replicate without access to all my usual equipment.

“In an odd way, I’ve kind of enjoyed the challenge of finding new ways to train.

“I’ve used my body more than ever and used household objects, or natural elements like trees in the park and outdoor spaces, to work on my strength and conditioning.

“It’s a relief the restrictions are starting to lift though because I have missed my Team England teammates.

“We have all kept in touch via social media to spur each other on but I can’t wait until we all meet up as we get ready for the Commonwealths.

“Team England includes athletes from all over the country, from all backgrounds and is the most representative team of England as it is today.”

Tai, 21, said: “As athletes we have all had to adapt.

“I haven’t been able to swim in a pool for a period of time so have done lots of land-based training at home and have even ventured out to the sea on the South Coast.

“Despite the sunshine, it was still a shock to the system to get into the water and very different from my normal training environment.”