Gymnast Amankwaah following in Fragapane's footsteps

In 2014, when the Commonwealth Games were last in Glasgow, a little-known teenage gymnast, Claudia Fragapane, became one of Britain's breakthrough stars as she won four gold medals on her debut.

Twelve years on, with the competition returning to the same city, another Bristol-born teenager is hoping to one day follow in Fragapane's footsteps when she makes her own Games bow.

Shantae Amankwaah, who is part of the same Bristol Hawks gymnastics club where Fragapane began her career, said it is "surreal" to be heading to the same competition.

"I've always looked up to her. Even in 2014 I was only young, and I didn't go to this gym yet, but she had so many big achievements, and when I came, she was always someone I looked up to," Amankwaah told BBC Points West.

"It's really inspiring, especially because we're from the same place, the same area."

At 17, Amankwaah is the youngest gymnast in Team England's squad and she is set to compete in the uneven bars, beam and floor beginning on Friday.

In 2024 she was crowned British junior all-around champion, while earlier this year she won bronze at the British Championships in the senior women's all-around discipline.

Yet the Commonwealth Games marks a major step forward in Amankwaah's fledgling career, and, as such, the aim is simple: "Just take in the whole experience," Amankwaah said.

"Obviously it would be nice to get a medal, but just to really enjoy it with the team and have fun, because it only comes round every four years."

Fragapane retired in 2024, and her advice to Amankwaah was of a similar message.

"It's really difficult to just make the team, and I just wish her the best of luck," she said.

"She just needs to go out there and really enjoy herself and hold all the memories, because next thing she knows she could be sat here, 12 years later, thinking, 'Wow, where has the time gone?'"

• The long-serving London nurse who ran for Ghana

As well as Fragapane, Amankwaah has plenty of support to call upon from her family, which is also packed with sporting talent.

Her grandmother Rose is a former sprinter who was once dubbed "the fastest woman in Africa" and represented Ghana at the Commonwealth Games.

Father Kevin then made more than 400 appearances across the English Football League during his playing career for clubs including Bristol City, Swindon, Swansea and Exeter.

Now qualified as a personal trainer, Kevin not only helps write training programmes for Amankwaah to use in the gym, but he can also provide the kind of advice ahead of a competition only a professional sportsperson can offer.

"It's definitely helped because he's been through the troubles of sport, so he's very motivating; he's the one I go to if I need any help," Amankwaah said.

"He's really good with helping me focus; he knows what I need before a competition because I get very nervous.

"He knows when to give me a bit of space; he knows what wise words will help me to do the best that I can because he's been through it as well."

Although whether Amankwaah's parents will be able to contain their nerves to watch her compete in Glasgow is another question.

"He [dad] gets really nervous; he tries not to let it on because my mum gets so nervous. Sometimes he even struggles to even film my routines because he's so nervous, but it's just because he wants the best for me," she said.

"They'll also think it will be such a good experience for me, so not too much pressure put on me just because it's my first one; just have to enjoy the moment while I'm young."